Key developments on April 17:
- China supplies weapons to Russia, Zelensky says
- Ukraine repels Russian offensive close to Pokrovsk, killing 200 Russian troopers, Zelensky says
- Ukrainian forces liberate 16 sq. kilometers close to Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi says
- Ukrainian drones assault Russian brigade linked to Sumy strike for second day in a row, sources say
China is supplying weapons to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on April 17, days after Ukrainian troopers captured Chinese language nationals combating for Russia's military.
"At the moment, now we have normal info from the Safety Service (of Ukraine), from intelligence about gunpowder, artillery," Zelensky mentioned throughout a briefing in Kyiv.
"I believe we can say intimately subsequent week that we consider that Chinese language representatives are engaged within the manufacturing of some weapons on the territory of Russia," he added.
Zelensky's assertion marks Kyiv's first affirmation that Beijing helps Russia's struggle effort by offering weapons. Iran and North Korea are two different allies of Moscow that provide Russia with arms.
A number of studies have beforehand steered that China sends weapons to Russia amid Moscow's all-out struggle in opposition to Ukraine, however Beijing denied this. In the summertime of 2024, Zelensky mentioned that China confirmed it wouldn't present Russia with arms.
Ukraine repels Russian offensive close to Pokrovsk, killing 200 Russian troopers, Zelensky says
The 14th Chervona Kalyna Brigade of Ukraine's Nationwide Guard has repelled a Russian offensive close to Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on April 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned.
Based on Zelensky, Ukrainian forces killed round 200 Russian troopers and injured 30 others, in addition to destroyed 115 items of Russian navy tools.
There was a notable slowdown in Russia’s offensive operations after months of regular territorial features throughout jap Ukraine. In current weeks, Ukrainian forces have liberated roughly 16 sq. kilometers of territory close to Pokrovsk, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi mentioned on April 17.
The large assault close to Pokrovsk concerned Russian armored fight automobiles and bikes, in addition to about two firms, Nationwide Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko mentioned earlier within the day, sharing footage exhibiting the assault.
"This battle is yet one more proof of the coordinated {and professional} actions of our defenders who’re holding the entrance line," the commander mentioned.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm these claims.
Zelensky warned that Russia would possible make a number of makes an attempt to launch offensives in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
"And presumably within the east, as a result of they haven’t attacked there for a very long time," he mentioned.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
Ukrainian forces liberate 16 sq. kilometers close to Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi says
Ukrainian forces have liberated roughly 16 sq. kilometers of territory close to Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in current weeks, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi mentioned on April 17.
There was a notable slowdown in Russia’s offensive operations after months of regular territorial features throughout jap Ukraine. Based on battlefield monitoring group DeepState, Russian troops have captured simply 133 sq. kilometers in March, the bottom month-to-month whole since June 2024.
The not too long ago recaptured territory by Ukrainian troops consists of areas close to the settlements of Udachne, Kotlyne, and Shevchenko, based on Syrskyi. He made the announcement after a three-day go to to the Operational-Tactical Group Donetsk, which he described because the strongest formation inside the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"Over the course of three days, I visited virtually all brigades of this strongest grouping of the Ukrainian Protection Forces, which bears the brunt of the enemy's spring offensive and destroys its greatest forces and means," Syrskyi mentioned.
Based on Syrskyi, Ukrainian forces are halting round 30 Russian assaults each day within the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting important losses on Russian troops.
Throughout his go to, Syrskyi met with commanders at front-line command posts and reviewed operational plans with Brigadier Common Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the operational-tactical group. He mentioned that on-site issues associated to logistics, ammunition provide, and fight group had been being addressed.
Regardless of continued Russian efforts to push Ukrainian troops out of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and attain the executive borders of those areas, Syrskyi mentioned these goals stay unfulfilled.
"We proceed our defensive operation, perform counteroffensive actions, and are attaining sure successes," Syrskyi mentioned.
As of late 2024, Russian forces managed round 60% of Donetsk Oblast and roughly 98.5% of Luhansk Oblast.
Moscow doesn’t totally management any of the 4 Ukrainian areas – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – that it illegally claimed to annex in 2022. Based on media studies, together with from The Moscow Instances, Russia is seeking full management over these areas within the negotiations on ending the struggle with the United States, which began in March 2025.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
Ukrainian drones assault Russian brigade linked to Sumy strike for second day in a row, sources say
Ukrainian drones struck positions of Russia's 112th Missile Brigade in Shuya in Ivanovo Oblast on April 17, marking a second day of the assaults in a row, sources in Ukraine's Protection Forces advised the Kyiv Impartial.
The brigade, which Ukraine's intelligence mentioned was behind the Palm Sunday strike in opposition to Sumy on April 13 that killed 35 individuals, together with two youngsters, and injured 117, was additionally attacked by drones on April 16.
Shuya's residents reported explosions within the early morning hours of April 17, with native authorities issuing a drone alert. Footage shared on-line reveals explosions and a fireplace within the space.
Russian information outlet Astra mentioned it had geolocated one of many movies of the strike, inserting it 180 meters from the brigade's garrison. The extent of harm or attainable casualties will not be instantly clear.
Russia's Protection Ministry claimed its forces downed 71 Ukrainian drones in a single day – virtually 50 of them in Kursk Oblast and none over Ivanovo Oblast.
Ukraine has not commented on the claims, which couldn’t be independently verified.
Shuya is located on the Teza River, roughly 33 kilometers (20 miles) from the regional middle, Ivanovo. It lies about 700 kilometers (435 miles) northeast of the Ukrainian border.
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The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta