Note: This page is an archive of events related to the Russian war on Ukraine from April, 2022. The situation in Ukraine is very serious. If the subject brings up questions or worries for you, be sure to discuss them with an adult you trust.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
After Russian attacks on oil storage and processing buildings, Ukraine is facing a shortage of fuel. The lack of fuel is causing rising prices, and has led to long lines at gas (petrol) stations across the country. The government is encouraging its citizens to use public transportation, where possible.
One of Russia’s main goals in attacking Ukraine’s oil supplies is to make it hard for Ukraine’s military forces to keep going. But Russia is also struggling to keep its soldiers supplied. Western military experts say that Russia’s attack on eastern Ukraine has slowed down. They believe that this is at least in part because Russia is having trouble keeping its forces supplied with food, fuel, and weapons.
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After Russian attacks on oil storage and processing buildings, Ukraine is facing a shortage of fuel. The lack of fuel is causing rising prices, and has led to long lines at gas (petrol) stations across the country. Above, cars line up at a gas station in Kyiv on April, 30.
Ukraine reports that among the treasures stolen from its museums were ancient gold artifacts that were over 2,300 years old. The gold pieces were stolen from a museum in the southern town of Melitopol. The Ukrainians in charge of the museum had hidden the gold artifacts, but Russian soldiers still managed to find and steal them. The pieces aren’t just worth a lot of money, they are also very important to Ukraine’s history and culture.
Friday, April 29, 2022
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russia’s attack on Ukraine has cost the country more than $600 billion. He said that 300 bridges and roughly 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) of roads had been “ruined or damaged”. He reported that Russia’s attacks had destroyed or damaged over 350 hospitals and more than 1,500 schools and other educational buildings.
Ukraine says that Russia has also taken more than 2,000 works of art from museums in Mariupol. Mariupol’s city council said that the art works had been taken by Russian forces into Russian-controlled areas of the Donbas region.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russia’s attack on Ukraine has cost the country more than $600 billion and destroyed or damaged over 350 hospitals and more than 1,500 schools and educational buildings. Above, damaged buildings in Mariupol on April 26.
The White House has asked the US Congress for a long-term package of $33 billion to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia. The money would provide military support and other aid through September 30. The money would also be used to replace any weapons taken from the supplies of the US armed forces.
Ukraine is getting lots of shipments of new weapons. The US and other Western allies have delivered over 20 planes full of supplies in the last day. At least 12 more are expected by tomorrow. Russia has warned Western countries about giving military support to Ukraine. Many people believe it’s becoming more likely that the war could expand beyond Ukraine.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned countries working to help Ukraine that it would respond quickly to any efforts to interfere. Mr. Putin said Russia would use “all the tools for this”.
Many countries believe Russia cut off the natural gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria as a warning to other European countries. Europe gets about 40% of its natural gas from Russia. Leaders from the US and other countries have called Russia’s actions “blackmail”. Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov says Russia is using the supply of gas as a “political weapon”.
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UN leader António Guterres visited the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. While he was there, Kyiv was hit by two Russian missiles. Mr. Guterres said he was disappointed that the UN’s 15-member Security Council hadn’t done everything it could “to prevent or end this war.”
United Nations (UN) leader António Guterres visited the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday. While he was there, Kyiv was hit by two Russian missiles. Mr. Guterres said he was disappointed that the UN’s 15-member Security Council hadn’t done everything it could “to prevent or end this war.” But Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and it vetoed several suggestions brought before the group.
Speaking about the southern port city where hundreds of people are trapped in a steel factory being bombed by Russia, Mr. Guterres said, “Mariupol is a crisis within a crisis.” The military leader in charge of the Ukrainians inside the steel mill says that over 600 people – both soldiers and civilians – are injured. So far, Russia has not allowed these people to be evacuated.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Russia has stopped its supply of natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria. Russia says it stopped supplying gas to the countries because they didn’t pay using Russia’s currency, the rouble. In response to Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that “unfriendly” countries pay for gas in roubles.
The move will hit both countries hard. Poland gets half of its natural gas from Russia, and roughly 90% of Bulgaria’s natural gas comes from Russia. Both countries say they’re looking at ways to replace the Russian gas, and for now, will begin using stored gas supplies.
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Russia has stopped its supply of natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria. The move will hit both countries hard. Both countries say they’re looking at ways to replace the Russian gas, and for now, will begin using stored gas supplies. Above, a gas storage station in Poland.
Russia has said that Ukraine has hit a number of targets on the Russian side of the border. Ukraine says Russia is faking these attacks in order to help convince the Russian people that the war is needed.
Tech company Microsoft says that Russia has launched hundreds of computer attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war. Many experts were surprised that there have not been more large cyberattacks from Russia. Microsoft’s information suggests that Russia has been timing its cyberattacks to match its other activities like bombing runs or missile strikes. Microsoft says that so far, Ukraine seems to have done a good job of managing Russia’s cyberattacks.
In a surprise move, the US and Russia have exchanged prisoners. US ex-Marine Trevor Reed, who was arrested in 2019, was exchanged for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was sent to jail on drug charges in 2011.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
United Nations (UN) leader António Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Mr. Guterres said that Mr. Putin agreed to allow the UN and the Red Cross to help organize the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol.
Mr. Guterres also met with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov. Mr. Guterres said he told Mr. Lavrov that Russia should call a cease-fire in Ukraine.
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UN leader António Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Mr. Guterres also met with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov (above). Mr. Guterres said he told Mr. Lavrov that Russia should call a cease-fire in Ukraine.
On Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met in Germany with military leaders from 40 countries. The goal of the meeting was to discuss how to support Ukraine and help it win the war. In the past, Germany has said that it wouldn’t send heavy weapons to Ukraine. But it has now agreed to send Ukraine special tanks that are designed to help bring down attacking airplanes.
Mr. Lavrov claimed that the West’s military support of Ukraine was making peace talks harder. He warned that the risks of nuclear weapons being used in the war was growing higher.
Monday, April 25, 2022
When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday, he promised him that the US would soon begin to send diplomats to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden named Bridget Brink, who is currently the ambassador to Slovakia, as his choice for the new US ambassador to Ukraine.
The US has also promised more military aid to Ukraine. Russia has warned the US to stop sending weapons to Ukraine. In the past, Russia has said that it might attack shipments of weapons.
On Monday, Russia used missiles to attack railway services in five places in Ukraine. In Vinnytsia, five people were killed and at least 18 were injured. In other places the electricity to the rail lines was cut, delaying passenger trains. Russia said it was targeting railways to make it hard for Ukraine to bring new weapons to the Donbas region, where Russia is focusing its attack.
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On Monday, Russia used missiles to attack railway services in five places in Ukraine. Above, a fire fighter looks at the damage to an electric station used to power railways. It was hit in Monday’s attacks.
Russia says that it has agreed to let civilians leave the steel factory in Mariupol where roughly 2,000 of Ukrainian soldiers and hundreds of civilians are hiding out underground. But Ukraine says that Russia has not yet agreed to a humanitarian corridor which would allow the civilians to get away safely. Russia has been pounding the huge factory with bombs.
Ukraine has asked the United Nations to handle the talks needed to set up a humanitarian corridor, and guarantee that its civilians can leave safely.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
April 24 marked two full months since Russia began its attack on Ukraine. Sunday was also Orthodox Easter, a very important religious holiday celebrated by most people in Ukraine. Ukraine had requested a cease fire for the day, but Russia didn’t agree.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday. It’s the first time top US leaders have traveled to Ukraine since Russia first attacked. The two are in Ukraine to show US support for the country. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he planned to use the meeting to request more military aid.
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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday. It’s the first visit from top US leaders since the war began. Above, Mr. Blinken meets with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Washington, DC on Friday.
Ukraine reports that Russia bombed the steel factory in Mariupol all night long on Saturday. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are hiding out in the factory and the tunnels underneath it. A Ukrainian captain told the New York Times that at least 500 of the Ukrainian soldiers at the factory are wounded. Supplies of all kinds are very low.
The situation is extremely difficult, since Russia seems unwilling to allow the people trapped in the factory to leave the city. Ukraine is unable to rescue them, since Mariupol is heavily surrounded by Russian forces.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
As part of its new effort to take control of the Donbas region and southern Ukraine, Russia’s attacks have increased. On Saturday, Russian missiles hit an apartment building in Odesa, killing six civilians, and injuring at least 18.
As Russia takes over Ukrainian cities and towns, it is also taking over TV stations. Russian forces are then ending Ukrainian programs and news reports, and replacing them with programs which give the Russian version of events. Unless they have satellite TV service, people who live these areas can only view Russian TV.
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On Saturday, Russian missiles hit an apartment building in Odesa, killing six civilians, and injuring at least 18. Above, a firefighter at an Odesa apartment building hit by a Russian missile.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that if Russia succeeds in taking over southern Ukraine, it will begin attacking other countries. That idea seemed to be supported on Friday by a Russian general who spoke about being able to reach Transnistria – a part of Moldova that is controlled by Russia. Moldova has shared its “deep concern” with Russia over the general’s comments.
There is still great concern for the roughly 1,000 civilians and 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers trapped in a steel factory in Mariupol. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told his forces not to attack the factory, but to “seal it up”. But Ukraine reports that Russia has begun bombing the factory again. Recently, videos have been released of some of the people trapped in the steel factory. Some of the civilians in the videos say they have been living in underground tunnels for nearly two months.
Friday, April 22, 2022
One of Russia’s top military leaders said on Friday that Russia hopes to take “full control” of not just the Donbas region, but also southern Ukraine. It is one of the clearest reports on Russia’s current goals in its attack on Ukraine. Russian goals seem to have changed greatly from the early days of the war.
The United Nations (UN) reports that over 2,300 civilians have been killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine. A number of those people were killed in ways which break international laws. Nearly 3,000 civilians have been injured.
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The United Nations reports that over 2,300 civilians have been killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine. Above, a Ukrainian woman touches a cross honoring her father – a civilian killed by Russian soldiers. The cemetery above is in Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.
The UN’s leader for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, warns that these numbers don’t tell the full story. “We know the actual numbers are going to be much higher,” she said. For example, there are new reports of large numbers of deaths in and around Mariupol which are not part of the current report.
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Russia claimed it has launched thousands of attacks on Ukrainian forces in the eastern Ukraine Donbas regions. The attacks included missile attacks and bombing from airplanes. Experts say Russia appears to be looking for weak points in Ukraine’s defenses.
Russia claims that it is in control of the eastern port city of Mariupol. There are still roughly 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers and as many as 1,000 civilians hiding out in a very large steel factory in the city. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his forces not to try to break into the factory, but to seal it up “so a fly can’t get through”.
Ukraine has said that it is willing to hold talks with Russia to reach an agreement on ways that its civilians can safely leave the city. Ukraine says Russia has not responded to its offers to talk. An effort to get thousands of civilians out of the city yesterday failed, but roughly 80 women, children, and older people were taken to safety on four buses.
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Ukraine says it’s willing to try to reach an agreemeent with Russia on how its civilians can safely leave Mariupol. An effort to get thousands of civilians out of the city yesterday failed, but roughly 80 women, children, and older people were taken to safety on four buses (above).
Russia is eager to control Mariupol because it would allow them to connect territory they control in the Donbas region with Crimea, which Russia took over in 2014. Connecting these two areas would make Russia’s forces much more powerful. If the city is truly in Russia’s control, it would also allow Russia to move lots of soldiers to other areas where they are needed.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden announced another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine, including many much-needed weapons. Mr. Biden said the aid offer sent a clear message to Mr. Putin, saying that “he will never succeed” in taking over Ukraine.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Russia continues to increase its attacks on the eastern Ukraine Donbas regions. So far, Ukraine seems to be holding off the attacks.
In Mariupol, the leader of the Ukrainian soldiers who are trapped in the Azovstal steel plant says the Russians outnumber them 10 to one. He asked for help, saying that the soldiers and the civilians trapped in the plant can’t last long. Russia and Ukraine say they agreed to open a humanitarian corridor for other civilians in Mariupol on Wednesday. Ukraine hoped to evacuate as many as 6,000 civilians.
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In Mariupol, the leader of the Ukrainian soldiers who are trapped in the Azovstal steel plant says the Russians outnumber them 10 to one. The plant is the one part of Mariupol that isn’t yet controlled by Russia. Above, a Russian military vehicle in Mariupol on Tuesday.
The war on Ukraine has been going on for nearly two months now. The United Nations reports that more than 10 million people have been forced from their homes. Over 5 million people have left the country. At least 3 million of those refugees have gone to Poland.
Russia launched a new long-distance missile that it test-fired at targets in the Kamchatka peninsula. The missile can travel as far as 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) and can carry nuclear weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the missile on Russian TV, saying it was so advanced that it could not be stopped. Mr. Putin suggested that the new missile would make people who might “try to threaten our country” stop and think.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Both Russia and Ukraine say a new stage of the war has begun, with Russia focusing its forces on the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Russia captured the town of Kreminna in Luhansk, one of the two areas that make up Donbas.
The fighting in the Donbas region is expected to grow far heavier in the future. Military experts say that Russia failed in its earlier attacks because it wasn’t prepared. Experts say this time Russia appears to be trying to make sure that it has enough forces to handle the job, and that its soldiers have the supplies they need. The fighting is likely to grow heavier once Russian forces are fully prepared.
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Russia and Ukraine say a new stage of the war has begun, with Russia focusing its forces on the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Above, a crater and a destroyed home are the results of Russian bombing in the village of Yatskivka in eastern Ukraine on April 16.
Ukraine has also been working to prepare for the attacks. New shipments of weapons and supplies from the US and its allies have been arriving, and Ukraine is rushing to get those supplies to the areas where they can help the most.
Ukrainian soldiers and hundreds of civilians are still hiding out in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The steel plant is quite large – over 4 square miles (11 square kilometers). It’s the one part of Mariupol that is not yet controlled by Russian forces. Russia has been pounding the area with bombs and has given the soldiers until April 20 to surrender. The Ukrainian soldiers in the steel plant have ignored two earlier deadlines.
Monday, April 18, 2022
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russia’s attack on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine has begun. After Russia was unable to take the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, its forces pulled back for a more focused attack on Donbas, where Russia already has some support among the local people. Russia has its soldiers spread out along a 300-mile (480-kilometer) “front” facing the region. Heavy weapons were fired all along this front on Monday.
Leading up to the Donbas attack, Russia launched roughly 300 attacks on targets across Ukraine. Military experts say these efforts were meant to make it harder for Ukraine to respond to the big attack on Donbas.
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Russian missiles struck the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Monday, killing at least seven people. Lviv has been far away from most of the fighting and has been seen as a “safe” city by people running from violence in other parts of Ukraine.
Russian missiles struck the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring 11. The missiles struck military storage areas as well as a company that repairs tires. Lviv has been far away from most of the fighting in Ukraine and has been seen as a “safe” city by people running from violence in other parts of Ukraine.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
In a sign of how heavily Russia bombed areas around Kyiv, the mayor of Irpin says that 70% of the town’s buildings were damaged or destroyed. Irpin is a town to the west of Kyiv, and was the scene of heavy fighting as Russian forces attacked the capital. The number of damaged buildings comes from a United Nations report based on satellite images.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that the EU’s next round of sanctions against Russia will focus on oil companies and banks. Earlier sanctions did not target Russia’s Sberbank, since it is often used as a way to pay for oil and gas from Russia. But Sberbank will be included in the EU’s next package of sanctions. The move is a sign that the EU is working hard to stop depending on Russian oil and gas.
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The mayor of Irpin says that 70% of the town’s buildings were damaged or destroyed. Irpin is a town to the west of Kyiv, and was the scene of heavy fighting as Russian forces attacked the capital. Above, people crossing a destroyed bridge in Irpin on April 7.
Russia set a deadline for the few Ukrainian soldiers still active in Mariupol to surrender. The deadline has passed, and the Ukrainian forces, who are reported to be gathered in a steel factory in the port city, still haven’t given up. Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, says the soldiers will not surrender. “The city still has not fallen,” Mr. Shmyhal told the American news group ABC.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
Russia launched missile attacks across Ukraine on Saturday. Some military experts think the attacks may be in response to Ukraine’s sinking of the Russian warship Moskva. Targets were hit in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, the southern port of Odesa, the far western city of Lviv, and in the capital, Kyiv.
Russia claims to have completely cleared Ukrainian forces from the port city of Mariupol. Only a few Ukrainian soldiers are reported to remain in a single factory in one part of the city.
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Russia claims to have completely cleared Ukrainian forces from the port city of Mariupol. Only a few Ukrainian soldiers are reported to remain in a single factory in one part of the city. Above, a picture taken Wednesday of some of the ruins of Mariupol.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that if Russia kills all of Ukraine’s soldiers in Mariupol, it could mean the end of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Russian bombings in areas north of Kyiv earlier this month brought an end to the last session of peace talks.
Russia has said that United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is no longer allowed to enter Russia. The same rule applies to other British government leaders. Russia says the ban is in response to unfriendly actions from the British government, including sanctions and military support for Ukraine.
Friday, April 15, 2022
The US military has confirmed that the Moskva, Russia’s most important warship in the Black Sea, was sunk as a result of Ukrainian missiles. Most of the 500 sailors on board were taken off the ship before it sank.
On Thursday, Russia accused Ukraine of using helicopters to attack a civilian area on the Russian side of the border. Ukraine denied the attack. On Friday, Russian forces attacked a factory outside of Kyiv. Russia said its attack was in response to the helicopter attack. Russia claimed that the factory it bombed made missiles.
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On Friday, Russian forces attacked a factory outside of Kyiv that it says made missiles. Russia claims that its attack was made in response to a helicopter attack Ukraine made on Russia. Ukraine denied making the attack. Above, the Ukrainian factory after the attack.
The US says Russia is blocking GPS signals in Ukraine in order to make the war effort harder for Ukrainian forces. Russia is using systems which block the signal from American GPS satellites. Russia has its own system of GPS satellites, so its forces are not affected by the blocking system.
Russia has warned the US not to send any more weapons to Ukraine. In an official message, Russia threatened the US that continuing to send weapons could have “consequences” that could not be predicted. A person speaking for the US said the US and its allies have no plans to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons.
Thursday, April 14, 2022
On Thursday, the most important ship that Russia has in the Black Sea was sunk. Ukraine says it hit the ship, called “Moskva”, with two missiles. Russia denies that the ship was hit. Instead, it says that its own weapons exploded on the ship.
The loss is a big one for Russia, and it could have an important effect on both sides if it turns out that Ukraine actually did sink the warship.
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On Thursday, the most important ship Russia has in the Black Sea was sunk. Ukraine says it hit the ship, called “Moskva”, with two missiles. Russia says the ship wasn’t hit. Instead, it says that its own weapons exploded on the ship. Above, the Moskva in Venezuela in 2013.
Responding to news that Sweden and Finland were considering becoming members of NATO, Russia said such a move would cause it to increase the number of weapons along its borders with these countries.
On Thursday, Dmitry Medvedev, said, “Naturally, we will have to reinforce these borders.” Mr. Medvedev is the deputy chief of Russia’s security council, and used to be the country’s president. He suggested that the new weapons along the border would include nuclear weapons.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Russia claimed that roughly 1,000 members of Ukraine’s armed forces in Mariupol surrendered on Wednesday. Ukraine has not confirmed the report. Ukraine says that some of its forces in Mariupol managed to connect with other Ukrainian forces.
The presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – four countries that border Russia – traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday to show their support for Ukraine. The leaders met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and offered more military help. “I would like to thank these great leaders of these great countries who are always with us, always on the side of Ukraine,” Mr. Zelensky said.
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The presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – four countries that border Russia – traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday to show their support for Ukraine (above). The leaders met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and offered more military help.
The US says it is sending another $800 million in weapons, armored vehicles, helicopters, and other aid to Ukraine. The US has now given a total of over $2.5 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war started.
Sweden and Finland are considering asking to join NATO. One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reasons for attacking Ukraine was his concern over the strength of NATO in Europe. Now, because of Russia’s invasion, it’s possible that more countries will join the defense agreement.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first public comments since Russian forces pulled back from their attack on Kyiv. Mr. Putin said that Russia’s goals were “absolutely clear and noble”. He claimed that there was no doubt that Russia would win.
Russian forces now control almost all of the port city of Mariupol. The one area that Ukraine’s soldiers still control is an area with a lot of factories called Azovstal. But Ukraine’s soldiers are running out of bullets and other supplies that they need to continue their fight. Russia has been focusing brutal attacks on Mariupol for a month and half. Gaining control of the city will help it connect two different areas that it controls.
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Russian forces now control almost all of the port city of Mariupol. Ukraine’s soldiers still control one area with a lot of factories, called Azovstal. But Ukraine’s soldiers are running out of the supplies they need to continue their fight. Above, Mariupol on April 12, 2022.
Ukraine says it stopped a Russian cyberattack. The cyberattack was meant to start on April 8. The attack targeted electrical stations across the country and could have taken out power for as many as 2 million people. Some experts say they expect Russia to increase its use of computer attacks.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden held a video meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is one of the few countries that hasn’t condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It has also not taken part in sanctions against Russia. India gets a lot of military help from Russia. Mr. Biden did not ask Mr. Modi to change his government’s positions, but he did encourage India to not increase the amount of oil that it buys from Russia.
Monday, April 11, 2022
The number of people killed by Russian attacks continues to rise. The Ukrainian government reports that at least 1,200 civilians were killed during Russian attacks on the country’s capital, Kyiv.
The mayor of Mariupol says at least 10,000 people in the city – and possibly as many as 20,000 – have died. The southern port city has been surrounded by Russian forces for weeks. Mariupol is short on supplies of all kinds and has been bombed regularly.
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The mayor of Mariupol says at least 10,000 people in the city have died. The southern port city has been surrounded by Russian forces for weeks, and has been bombed regularly. Mariupol is short on supplies of all kinds. Above, people in Mariupol cooking on Saturday.
At least 10,000 civilians are reported to be waiting to leave Mariupol. But they have been held up by Russian soldiers, who want to make sure that no soldiers leave with the civilians.
Karl Nehammer, the leader of Austria’s government, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. He’s the first European leader to meet with Mr. Putin in person since Russia began its invasion.
Mr. Nehammer made it clear that “This is not a friendly visit.” He said, “My most important message to Putin was that this war must finally end, because in a war there are only losers on both sides.” Mr. Nehammer met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky last Saturday.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
On Saturday, Russia put a new general – General Aleksandr Dvornikov – in charge of its forces in Ukraine. Many people worry that this could make Russia’s attacks on civilians worse. General Dvornikov was accused of ordering attacks on civilian areas as Russia took part in the war in Syria.
The US has warned that Russia is getting closer to launching a major attack in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas. Satellite images have shown an 8-mile (13-kilometer) long convoy of Russian military vehicles heading south toward Donbas. On Sunday, Russian heavy weapons attacks are reported to have destroyed the airport in the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine.
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The US has warned that Russia is getting closer to launching a major attack in eastern Ukraine. On Sunday, Russian heavy weapons attacks are reported to have destroyed the airport in the eastern city of Dnipro. Above, smoke rising from the Dnipro airport on Sunday.
In order to get as many civilians out as possible, Ukrainian volunteers have been driving busloads of people out of eastern Ukraine. The United Nations reports that over 7 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes since the war started. Around 4.4 million of them have left the country.
Saturday, April 9, 2022
United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise trip to Kyiv on Saturday to show support for the Ukrainian people. Mr. Johnson met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and promised that the UK would be sending more aid and more weapons to Ukraine.
Russia says it is not responsible for yesterday’s missile attack on a train station in Kramatorsk that killed at least 52 people. US military experts say they believe the attack was the work of Russian forces.
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise trip to Kyiv on Saturday to show support for the Ukrainian people. Mr. Johnson met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (above) and promised that the UK would send more aid and more weapons to Ukraine.
Ukraine says that Russian soldiers have forced over 600,000 Ukrainians to leave their homes and go into Russian controlled areas. Reports suggested that many are being forced to go to Russia.
More people living Ukrainian in cities that are under heavy attack were able to escape this weekend. A total of over 10,000 people were able to evacuate dangerous cities through “humanitarian corridors” on Friday and Saturday.
Russia has forced 15 groups that work to protect human rights to end their work in Russia. The affected groups include Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Friday, April 8, 2022
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, visited Ukraine on Friday. She toured the town of Bucha, where some of the worst violence against civilians happened.
Ms. von der Leyen gave Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a form which will begin Ukraine’s request to join the European Union. Mr. Zelensky has been asking for this process to be speeded up. Ms. von der Leyen suggested that the process would be fast, and perhaps even “a matter of weeks”.
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Ursula von der Leyen, the leader of the European Commission, visited Ukraine on Friday. Ms. von der Leyen gave Mr. Zelensky a form which will begin Ukraine’s request to join the European Union. Ms. von der Leyen suggested that the process would be fast
Ukraine says that a Russian missile attack on a crowded train station in the city of Kramatorsk has killed at least 50 people and injured around 100, including children. Thousands of people in the city were trying to get on trains after the government told civilians in the region to leave. Ukraine is expecting heavy new attacks from Russia in the East and South.
Slovakia has sent Ukraine a special portable system that can be used to protect against airplanes that are attacking. The system is called “S-300”. Ukraine already had some S-300 systems, but many of them of have been damaged in the fighting. The United States will replace Slovakia’s S-300 system with another missile defense system.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Ukraine is warning people still living in eastern Ukraine, especially Donestsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv, to leave now. The country is expecting Russia to lead a strong attack on this area, and the government would like to avoid having civilians trapped or killed in the area.
The extremely violent treatment of civilians in Ukraine by Russia’s forces continues to have effects around the world.
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Ukraine is warning people still living in eastern Ukraine to leave now. The country expects Russia to lead a strong attack on the area, and wants to avoid having civilians trapped or killed in the area. Above, an area near Kyiv shows damage from Russian attacks.
Russia has denied killing or mistreating civilians, but more and more proof of these actions is being found. Germany says it has recordings of radio messages in which Russian soldiers talk about the killing of Ukrainian civilians. Not all of the violence is being done by Russian soldiers. At least one video has come out that appears to show Ukrainian soldiers killing a Russian soldier who was being held prisoner.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from its Human Rights council. The vote was 93 countries in favor of suspending Russia and 24 against (58 countries didn’t vote).
The US Senate has approved two bills to punish Russia for its actions in Ukraine. One bill bans buying oil from Russia. The other would allow US President Joe Biden to greatly increase taxes on products coming from Russia. The European Union says it plans to ban coal from Russia, starting in August.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
The US says that all of Russia’s soldiers have left the northern Ukraine cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv. But Ukrainian forces moving back into these areas are faced with the challenge of clearing dangerous mines left behind by Russia.
Ukraine is getting ready for the next stage of the war as Russia moves its soldiers out of northern Ukraine and focuses them instead on eastern and southern Ukraine. Since Russia already has support in these areas, the fighting is expected to be much harder for Ukraine.
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Russia’s soldiers have left much of northern Ukraine. But Ukrainian forces moving back into these areas are faced with the challenge of clearing dangerous mines left by Russia. Above, a warning sign about mines in the re-taken area of Borodianka, near Kyiv.
Western nations are rushing weapons to Ukraine to help the country beat off the new attack. For example, Ukraine has gotten over 17,000 “javelin” launchers, which are portable and shoot missiles designed to take out tanks. But getting these weapons into the country and to the areas where they will be needed is a challenge.
After days of working to get people out of the surrounded port city of Mariupol, the Red Cross says that over 500 people were able to get out on Wednesday. Thousands more are still stuck in the city, where conditions are terrible.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Another effort to bring aid supplies into the surrounded port of Mariupol has failed. The Red Cross says a team of people that it sent to help in Mariupol are now being held by Russia. After the terrible scenes of violence found in areas where Russian soldiers have left, many people fear that the situation in Mariupol could be even worse.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the United Nations (UN) Security Council over video on Monday. He told the council that Russia should be held responsible for “war crimes” in Ukraine. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and able to veto any decisions it does not like. Mr. Zelensky said that the Security Council should either remove Russia from the group, or the group should break up.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the United Nations Security Council over video on Monday (above). He told the council that Russia should be held responsible for “war crimes” in Ukraine.
Outside countries continue to increase pressure on Russia after the shocking reports of violence in Ukraine. The US plans to ask for Russia to be removed from the UN’s Human Rights Council. That’s a group in the UN which is meant to make decisions to help protect human rights around the world.
Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Lithuania joined Germany in sending Russian diplomats back to Russia in response to the extreme violence used by Russian forces. The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, says she plans to work with other allies to prevent Russian ships from entering western ports.
Monday, April 4, 2022
Reports of extreme violence by Russian forces have brought increased criticism from around the world. Ukraine says Russian soldiers killed hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha near Kyiv, and that the killings were done on purpose. Though Russia has denied the charges, satellite images confirm that many of the killings happened before Ukraine’s forces entered the area.
US President Joe Biden says that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be put on trial for war crimes. Germany’s government has ordered 40 Russian diplomats to leave the country. The US and other NATO countries have promised strong sanctions in response to Russia’s actions.
But Russia’s extreme violence has made it harder for the countries supporting Ukraine to agree on what needs to be done next. Countries like Poland and Lithuania have taken strong actions and are encouraging other countries, like Germany and France, to do the same. Germany is under increased pressure to stop buying natural gas from Russia.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (above) traveled to Bucha on Monday to see the effects of the Russian violence. It was Mr. Zelensky’s first trip out of Kyiv in several weeks. He said it’s “very hard to talk, when you see what they have done here.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Bucha on Monday to see the effects of the Russian violence. It was Mr. Zelensky’s first trip out of Kyiv in several weeks. He said that Russia’s actions could affect the peace talks that are being held between the two sides. He said it’s “very hard to talk, when you see what they have done here.”
Sunday, April 3, 2022
Ukraine has now retaken most of the area around the capital, Kyiv. As Ukraine’s soldiers are retaking areas where Russian soldiers have left, they are finding signs of incredible violence by the Russians. Many groups say that Russia may be responsible for war crimes. Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, said, “This is not a battlefield, it’s a crime scene.” Russia says the charges aren’t true.
Ukraine’s government says that Russia has kidnapped at least 11 mayors of Ukrainian cities. At least one mayor is reported to have been killed.
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Ukraine has now retaken most of the area around the capital, Kyiv. As Ukraine’s soldiers are retaking areas where Russian soldiers have left, they’re finding signs of incredible violence by the Russians. Above, a town near Kyiv called Irpin on Saturday.
Russia and Ukraine are expected to continue peace talks on Monday. Both sides say there are signs of progress. But Russia says the two sides are not close enough yet to make it worth having the presidents of the two countries meet.
Russia has threatened to fine the online encyclopedia Wikipedia if it does not change some of its reporting on Russia’s war on Ukraine. Wikipedia says its reports are checked to make sure that they are accurate, and that it will not change its reports just to please Russia.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Ukrainian forces are retaking towns in the areas around Kyiv and Chernihiv, as Russian forces leave. Many of the areas which Russia has left behind are in very bad shape. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says that in some places Russian soldiers have left behind mines which are putting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in danger.
Ukraine’s railways are having a hard time moving shipments of the country’s grain crops. Because Russia has blocked off the country’s main ports on the Black Sea, the country is looking for other ways to sell its crops outside the country. Ukraine’s large grain crops are an important food source in much of the world.
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Ukrainian forces are retaking towns in the areas around Kyiv and Chernihiv, as Russian forces leave. Many of the areas which Russia has left behind are in very bad shape. Above, Ukrainian soldiers in a tank on patrol in a retaken area in Chernihiv.
Russia claims that it has used very accurate missiles to target military airfields in the central Ukrainian cities of Poltava and Dnipro. But the leader of the Poltava region says the missiles also struck buildings where civilians live.
The leader of Russia’s space program has said that if Western countries don’t end their sanctions, Russia may soon end its cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a project that is run by several countries, including Russia and the US.
Western countries have made it clear that they will not end the sanctions while Russia continues its war. Many people doubt whether Russia will follow through on its threat. Last Wednesday, American astronaut Mark Vande Hei returned to Earth on a Russian spacecraft, along with two cosmonauts. There were no unusual events during the process.
Friday, April 1, 2022
A Red Cross effort to bring supplies to people stuck in the surrounded port city of Mariupol had to turn back because it didn’t receive promises of safety from Russia. The Red Cross said it hopes to try again tomorrow. The Red Cross had also hoped to deliver two trucks full of food, water, and medicine, but didn’t get permission from Russia to deliver those supplies either.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people did manage to leave Mariupol on Friday, but not as part of a Red Cross convoy. As many as 170,000 people are believed to still be trapped in Mariupol.
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Russia claimed that Ukraine used two helicopters to attack an oil storage area in Belgorod, Russia, which is across the border from Ukraine. Ukraine says it wasn’t responsible for the attack. The fire at the oil storage area (above) was later put out.
Russia claimed that Ukraine used two helicopters to attack an oil storage area in Belgorod, Russia, which is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) across the border from Ukraine. If so, it would be the first attack on Russian land that Ukraine has made since the start of the war. Ukraine says it wasn’t responsible for the attack. The fire at the oil storage area was later put out.
Peace talks between the two countries continued on Friday. Ukraine says that 86 of its soldiers who had been captured have now been released as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia.
For more background and earlier reports on the situation in Ukraine, see these articles:
• Russia’s War on Ukraine – March, 2022 Archive
• Companies Protest Russia’s War on Ukraine
• Fighting Continues In Ukraine, Despite Peace Talks
• Russia Continues Attack on Ukraine
• Russia Invades Ukraine, World Leaders Condemn Attack
• Russia ‘Recognizes’ Areas of Ukraine, Sends Soldiers
• Will Russia Invade Ukraine? Talks Could Lower Tensions
• Biden & Putin Meet Over Tense Ukraine Situation
Note: The situation in Ukraine is very serious. If the subject brings up questions or worries for you, be sure to discuss them with an adult you trust.