Ukraine war latest: Elderly woman hospitalised as Moscow bombards Kharkiv



Putin to meet President of Indonesia today

Vladimir Putin will meet with the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, on Monday.

The Kremlin said the pair would meet, but did not specify a time or location for the meeting.

It is the third time that Indonesia’s leader has met with Putin as the country seeks to deepen ties with Moscow.

Daniel Keane13 April 2026 12:00

Kremlin says it hopes for pragmatic ties with new Hungarian leadership

The Kremlin said on Monday that it hoped ⁠it could continue what it called its “pragmatic ties” with ⁠Hungary’s ​new political ⁠leadership after Prime Minister ⁠Viktor Orban, a ​close ⁠Russian partner, ‌lost an election to centre-right rival Peter ‌Magyar.

Kremlin spokesman ‌Dmitry Peskov told reporters that ⁠Moscow respected the choice the Hungarian people had made at the ballot box and wanted good ‌relations with ​Hungary, as ‌well as with ⁠the rest ⁠of Europe.

Daniel Keane13 April 2026 11:06

Ukraine confirms nearly 209,000 Russians killed in war – report

The identities of at least 208,755 Russian soldiers have now been confirmed, a new investigation by Russia’s Mediazona and BBC Russian service showed.

A fresh list of 2,553 Russian soldiers has been added to a running list of casualties in a new update in late March.

The confirmed death toll now includes over 76,300 volunteers, 23,400 recruited prisoners, and 18,400 mobilised soldiers, the report said.

A total of 7,003 officers have also been confirmed to have been killed.

The actual figures of casualties suffered by Moscow is likely significantly higher, the media outlet noted.

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 10:05

‘Europe’s heart beating stronger’ as Orban loses critical election

Hungary’s opposition centre-right Tisza party appeared on track to win Sunday’s national election, partial results showed, ending 16 ​years of rule by prime minister Viktor Orban, a nationalist backed by US president Donald Trump and Russia.

Here’s how Hungary and other European nations have reacted to the election result:

Peter Magyar, Leader of Hungary’s opposition Tisza party

“As we promised, as we hoped, today, on 12 April, 2026, Hungary and several million people made history ⁠again, exactly 23 years to the day after there was a referendum on joining the European Union in Hungary.”

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban

“The election results are not final yet but the situation is understandable and clear. The election result is painful for us, but clear. The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the winner.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky

“Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone ⁠in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary. ​Europe ⁠and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability. We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability ⁠in Europe.”

Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the EU commission

“Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger… Europe’s heart is beating stronger ‌in Hungary tonight.”

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 09:35

EU breathes a sigh of relief as Orban loses critical election

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán had such an outsize global influence that his crushing electoral defeat is resounding far and wide.

During his 16 years in power, admirers emulated Orbán’s playbook for reshaping political institutions to his advantage and squeezing minority rights and media freedoms, and viewed him as a defender of national sovereignty in the face of globalisation and migration.

To his detractors, he was a threat to European democracy and the continent’s hard-fought values of human rights and rule of law.

Orbán was especially and constantly critical of the EU, even though his country enjoys billions in funding from the bloc.

Within minutes of his concession speech, European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen, a frequent target of Orbán’s pronouncements, posted on X: “Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight.

Europe’s biggest powers also jumped in.

British prime minister Keir Starmer called it “an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy. I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries.”

German chancellor Friedrich Merz messaged Magyar: ”Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe. Gratulálok, kedves Magyar Péter! (Congratulations, dear Magyar Peter!)”

French president Emmanuel Macron said that “France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people’s commitment to the values of the European Union, and Hungary’s commitment to Europe.”

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 09:05

Easter truce expires as Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of ceasefire violations

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war, reporting more than a thousand drone ⁠and shelling attacks just hours after the truce began on Saturday to mark Orthodox Easter.

The Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s military, in a late evening report issued as the end of the truce was approaching, said it had compiled a total of 7,696 Russian violations over ⁠the course of the truce.

Both sides continued to report what they described as violations of the ceasefire throughout the ‌day on Sunday. The truce was due to end at midnight (2100 ‌GMT).

The latest report by the Ukrainian General Staff said the 7,696 Russian violations noted over the course of the truce included 1,355 artillery shelling incidents, 115 assault operations and 6,226 strikes by attack drones. It said no air strikes had been recorded.

According to the calendar of ​the ⁠Orthodox faith dominant in both countries, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday.

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 08:35

Zelensky congratulates Hungary’s Magyar on election victory

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar, leader of ⁠the opposition pro-EU Tisza party, on his victory in ⁠the ​Hungarian election ⁠and pledged to work ⁠with him to ​strengthen ⁠Europe and ‌uphold peace and security.

“It is important when ‌a constructive ‌approach is victorious,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

“We are ready to meet and for joint constructive work for the benefit of both ‌our peoples ​and also ‌for the ⁠sake of ⁠peace, security and stability in ‌Europe,” he said.

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 08:05

Zelensky calls on Russia to continue ceasefire after Easter

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine would stick to the truce and called on Russia to keep it going beyond Orthodox Easter.

He made no reference to alleged ceasefire violations in his nightly video address.

The truce ended at midnight per Moscow time.

“It would be right for the ceasefire to continue ⁠beyond this,” Zelensky said.

“We have made this proposal to Russia and if Russia once again chooses war instead of peace, it will show ‌the world, and particularly the United ​States, who truly wants what.”

Zelensky has proposed a ‌halt to fighting on a number of occasions, ​but has been turned down by Moscow, which claims it is seeking an overall settlement. Critics say Vladimir Putin is attempting to seize as much territory as possible before any peace deal that would freeze the frontlines where they stand.

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 07:35

Poland to upgrade ties with South Korea

South Korean president Lee Jae Myung and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk agreed to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the leaders placing defence cooperation at the centre of the relationship.

South Korea has ‌become one of Poland’s leading arms suppliers in recent years ​as Warsaw moves to rapidly modernise its military following ‌Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In remarks made before ⁠talks between the leaders at the presidential ​Blue ⁠House this morning, Lee said the countries would further expand defence industry cooperation under a $44.2bn framework pact signed in 2022.

“K2 ⁠tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light-attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers — ​bearing ⁠South Korea’s technology and pride — ‌are now safeguarding Poland’s territory and its people across its vast lands,” Lee said.

The South Korean leader said that the partnership extended beyond ‌arms sales to include joint production, ‌technology transfers and training.

Tusk described South Korea as Poland’s “most important ally after the United States, especially in the defence industry” and said he would personally oversee expanded defence cooperation between ⁠the countries.

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 07:00

Watch: Trump slams Nato, says US spent ‘trillions’ guarding against Russia

Trump slams NATO, says US spent ‘trillions’ guarding against Russia

Arpan Rai13 April 2026 06:11