‘Volcanic eruption’ as Ukraine hits one of Putin’s largest oil refineries & inside a morgue for frontline soldiers

Day 1,513.

Today, as Hungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar signals he will not veto the €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine – and Slovakia’s opposition to the package appears to be crumbling – we ask whether Brussels can finally get the funding approved. We report on a continued surge in Ukrainian airstrikes against high-value Russian targets, and consider whether the air war in Russia’s war against Ukraine is beginning to tilt in Kyiv’s favour. We also examine developments in Ukraine’s domestic politics, as former presidential aide Andriy Yermak faces scrutiny from the country’s anti-corruption authorities. And later, we bring you a special interview from Adélie’s recent trip to Ukraine with Asami Terajima on the military’s efforts to prevent troops going AWOL and visiting a Kharkiv morgue.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Asami Terajima – frontline reporter at the Kyiv Independent.

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Top Zelensky allies Yermak, Arakhamia targeted in new searches, summons, source says (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/yermak/

The Mushroom Captivating Wartime Ukraine (New Lines):

https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/the-mushroom-captivating-wartime-ukraine/

Russian air defenses are collapsing. Now Ukrainian warplanes can hit harder (Euromaidan):

https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/04/15/donetsk-airport-raid/

Inside Ukraine's AWOL and military desertion crisis

https://kyivindependent.com/inside-ukraines-awol-and-desertion-crisis/

As Ukraine war deaths mount, Kharkiv morgue strains to identify the truth

https://kyivindependent.com/you-cant-turn-off-your-emotion-inside-a-ukrainian-morgue-as-war-deaths-mount/

Coming of age during war, where mistakes can cost a life

https://kyivindependent.com/coming-of-age-during-war-where-mistakes-can-cost-a-life/

War Notes Newsletter

https://kyivindependent.com/newsletters/war-notes/

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