Attack on journalist Makarov, territory liberated near Pokrovsk: April 17 highlights
A knife attack in Kyiv targeted journalist and Suspilne Media executive producer Yuriy Makarov. Ukrainian forces liberated about 16 square kilometers of territory near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. Here’s a roundup of the top news for April 17.
Attack on Makarov
On April 16, an unknown assailant stabbed journalist and Suspilne Media executive producer Yuriy Makarov in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district.
Makarov sustained two wounds—to his arm and torso. The attacker fled, leaving the knife behind, and Makarov called police himself. He was hospitalized with no threat to his life.
Police recovered the knife and other evidence at the scene. The attack is being investigated as intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm (Part 1, Article 121 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code). Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said he is personally overseeing the investigation.
Possible motives include a domestic dispute or Russian intelligence involvement. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested the attack may be linked to Makarov’s professional work covering Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Nasirov's trial
The High Anti-Corruption Court postponed a hearing in the case of Roman Nasirov, former head of the State Fiscal Service, after his attempt to enlist in military service. The next session is set for April 24.
Prosecutor Olha Malyk said Nasirov sought a transfer to another unit upon learning he was drafted into a combat brigade. Nasirov denied this, claiming he wanted to join the military in 2022.
Territories liberated near Pokrovsk
Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces liberated about 16 square kilometers in the areas of Udachne, Kotlyne, and Shevchenko near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast over recent weeks.
However, he noted Russia has not abandoned its goal of pushing Ukrainian units beyond Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to reach their administrative borders.
Negotiations of the "coalition of the willing" took place in Paris
Ukrainian officials visited Paris to discuss a ceasefire and security guarantees with counterparts from Britain, Germany, and France.
Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, called the meeting “very substantive.” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said work on security guarantees with partners continues.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also in Paris, said his trip had one goal: “to find real, practical solutions to end the Russia-Ukraine war.”
Kyiv deputy mayor faces charges
Law enforcement charged Volodymyr Prokopiv, deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration for self-governance, with organizing schemes to illegally smuggle draft dodgers.
Investigators say Prokopiv facilitated the exit of over 30 military-age men from Ukraine between May and June 2022.
Other news
- Naftogaz: A French court approved the forced recovery of $5 billion from Russia.
- The body of a National Border Guard Academy cadet was found in Khmelnytskyi.
- Former NABU head Artem Sytnyk was sacked as deputy head of the Defense Procurement Agency due to “staff cuts.”
- Zelenskyy said most of Ukraine’s 225 air defense systems “disappeared” since independence.