Photo : Nato.int
Photo : Nato.int
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON GROUND
On 10 April, a massive Russian drone attack overnight injured 12 people in Kyiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv. In Kyiv, two were wounded after drones triggered fire at a storage site and damaged nearby homes. Mykolaiv witnessed more heavier damage, with 10 people injured and multiple structures—including nine apartment buildings and an administrative facility—affected. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that out of 145 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia, 85 were shot down and 49 likely failed due to electronic countermeasures, with 11 unaccounted.
On 09 April, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Russia was steadily recruiting Chinese citizens to fight in the war. The Ukrainian intelligence identified 155 Chinese nationals involved, including two recently captured in the eastern Donetsk region. Zelenskyy stated that the recruitment was part of organised efforts by Russia, using platforms such as social media, and claimed that Beijing was aware of its citizens’ involvement. In response, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the accusations as “irresponsible,” stressing that China maintains a neutral posture in the conflict and constantly advises its citizens to avoid participating in armed fighting. While China has established a “no-limits” partnership with Russia, it continues to present itself as a probable mediator in the war.
On 09 April, Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that Russia new offensive targeting the northeastern regions of Sumy and Kharkiv. Syrskyi reported a major uptick in attacks over the past week, signifying a strategic push by Russia to set up a buffer zone along the border areas of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv. In response, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces are dynamically conducting operations within Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions, aiming to interrupt Russian advances and reinforce the defence of vulnerable Ukrainian border zones.
On 09 April, Russia and Ukraine’s officials reported extensive overnight drone attacks, with Ukraine stating that 21 civilians were wounded in Russian strikes, including 15 in the central industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 55 drones, 32 of which were intercepted. Meanwhile, Russia claimed its air defences downed 158 Ukrainian drones, including 29 over the southern Rostov region. While no injuries were immediately reported in Russia, authorities evacuated residents due to the risk posed by a downed drone.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 09 April, RT reported on Ukrainian military multiple drone attacks aimed at Russian gas pumping station that supplies fuel to southern Europe via the TurkStream pipeline. According to Russia's Defence Ministry, the attacks focused on the Korenovskaya compressor station in the Krasnodar region, which is part of a pipeline critical to the TurkStream link. Russia claims that Ukraine's actions violate a recently agreed-upon ceasefire regarding energy infrastructure while claimed intercepting eight Ukrainian drones, preventing damage to the facility. TurkStream supplies natural gas to several European countries, including Turkey, Hungary, Serbia, and Greece.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 10 April, defence ministers from around 30 member states, led by the UK and France, gathered at NATO headquarters to move ahead plans for a likely future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. They aimed at achieving any ultimate peace deal with Russia. This is the first such meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing," subsequent to the high-level military visits to Kyiv. While the US is not taking part, its eventual support in military aid or air power—was viewed crucial for the coalition. The proposed force is likely to be stationed away from the front lines and probably outside Ukraine, consisting 10,000 to 30,000 troops, depending on the future agreement. The meeting showcases Europe's effort to take greater responsibility for regional security amid US calls for more burden-sharing. A separate NATO meeting, co-chaired by the UK and Germany, is scheduled for 11 April will focus on boosting ongoing military support for Ukraine.
On 10 April, the US and Russian delegations held a meeting in Istanbul to discuss restoration of normal operations at diplomatic missions. The talks, led by Russia’s Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev, and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, focused solely on resolving long-standing issues upsetting embassy functions—such as staffing, frozen assets, and mutual allegations of harassment. Relations between the two have been strained since the war. The US stated that Ukraine was not on the agenda, calling for larger diplomatic normalisation.
On 09 April, Germany’s incoming coalition government, formed by the CDU, CSU, and SPD, plans to change the benefits system for Ukrainian refugees. Under the new agreement, Ukrainian refugees arriving after 01 April 2025, will no longer be eligible for the citizen's benefit (Bürgergeld) and will instead receive the lower-level support given under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. This marks a U-turn of the policy in place since June 2022, which allowed Ukrainian refugees to right to use citizen’s benefits without applying for asylum, due to their protected status under the EU’s temporary protection directive. The change will not affect those already living in Germany, who number around 1.25 million. Despite the policy shift, the coalition reaffirmed its obligation to providing strong support for Ukraine against Russia, pledging ongoing aid and assistance in both defence and diplomatic efforts.
On 09 April, the European Commission released a EUR one billion tranche of its macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, bringing the total amount to EUR five billion as part of the EU’s larger EUR 18.1 billion support package. This aid is a part of a broader G7 initiative aiming to provide around EUR 45 billion to help Ukraine. Notably, these loans are to be repaid using proceeds from frozen Russian state assets within the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine and framed the disbursement as both a step toward peace and an investment in a shared future. Additionally, the EU has requested EUR 2.1 billion in windfall profits from immobilized Russian central bank assets, representing income generated during the second half of 2024.