Over 100 injured in Kharkiv, US plan to end war: April 18 highllghs

Russian attack

At dawn on April 18, the aggressor attacked Kharkiv with Iskander missiles. The Osnovyanskyi district of the city was under attack. One of the missiles exploded in the air right above a residential area, while the other hit the territory of an enterprise next to a residential building.

A 79-year-old man was killed in the shelling. Another 113 people, including nine children, were injured. The total number is still being determined.

In Sumy, Russians attacked a local bakery and confectionery company. In particular, Easter cakes were baked there. The attack killed a 61-year-old driver who was loading the products, and injured a 55-year-old employee of the company.

After these strikes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukraine's partners, in particular the United States, to provide Patrot air defense systems and missiles for them.

"We are asking for the protection that every nation deserves. And it should not be the case that some people deserve more help, and some less. And this is the Christian way to help. Especially when there is such an opportunity to help," Zelenskyy said.

US plans for war

During a meeting in Paris, US representatives presented their proposals to European allies for ending the war in Ukraine. Bloomberg, citing a source, writes that the US is actually proposing to freeze the war and leave the occupied territories of Ukraine under Russian control.

US President Donald Trump himself stated that America would withdraw from the negotiation process regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war if "one of the sides continues to complicate things."

"If for some reason either side makes things difficult, we'll just say, 'You're stupid, you're terrible people.' We'll just walk out. But hopefully we won't have to," Trump said.

He added that the United States wants to see an end to the war and believes there is "a good chance of a solution."

The Kremlin announced the end of the "moratorium" on attacks on energy facilities

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the month-long "moratorium" on strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities had passed. But he added that there were no other instructions from Vladimir Putin.

Dmytro Lytvyn, the Ukrainian President's communications adviser, told reporters that Ukraine considers the beginning of the agreement with the American side to be March 25, when the White House published the relevant statements.

Deputy Umerov Havryliuk dismissed from his post

The government has dismissed First Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk. The media reported that Havrylyuk may resign due to a conflict with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

However, Umerov himself assured that Havryliuk would remain on the ministry's team. He promised to announce his new area of responsibility soon.

Zelenskyy introduced new sanctions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has introduced new sanctions against Russian propagandists and individual enterprises involved in the Russian defense-industrial complex.

The list of people against whom personal sanctions were imposed includes Nikita Dzhigurda, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Alexander Rosenbaum, Nikolai Rastorguev, Yaroslav Dronov (a singer who performs under the pseudonym Shaman), and many others.

In addition, three Chinese companies were added to the list of sanctioned companies. On the eve, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian special services had received evidence of cooperation between China and Russia in supplying weapons. Beijing claims that China did not provide weapons to any of the parties in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Other news

• Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 909 Ukrainian defenders who died on various fronts.
• The government has adopted a resolution to increase financial support for cadets of higher military educational institutions. It will come into effect on May 1.
• The Cabinet of Ministers has published the text of the memorandum on the minerals agreement, which was signed the day before with the United States.
• Bohdan Hrishenkov (Puhach) has been appointed the new commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the National Guard Azov.
• The SUNNY BUNNY LGBT Film Festival has responded to criticism regarding holding the event during the Easter holidays.