The House of Representatives has scheduled a critical vote on a substantial new $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, overcoming a key procedural hurdle supported by both Republicans and Democrats. The vote to allow consideration of the Ukraine aid bills passed 316-94. The bills providing military aid and other assistance to Kyiv will be voted on 20 April evening, alongside aid packages for Israel and Taiwan. Ukrainian officials have urgently pleaded for this aid, warning it is desperately needed to avoid defeat against Russia’s ongoing invasion. While the Republican majority in the House enab ..read more

Quantum-Systems GmbH, a German producer of small drones, has opened a new drone factory in Ukraine, as reported by the company’s press service on 18 April. This new facility is their second operation in Ukraine, complementing the existing support center. Quantum-Systems established a Service, Support, Training, and Logistics Center (SSTLC) in Ukraine in spring 2023, primarily for its Vector reconnaissance drone operator training, repairs, and facilitating spare parts procurement. With the company’s expected six-million-euro investment over the next two years, the plant is expected to employ a ..read more

The Pentagon is ready to rapidly send a military aid package to Ukraine once Congress approves it, said spokesperson Pat Ryder.  The foreign aid package has been stalled since last fall due largely to opposition from the far-right Republicans in the US Congress, suspending military assistance that Kyiv badly needs to fight Russia. "We can move within days," Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said when asked how quickly the US can send military aid to Ukraine once Congress approves it. pic.twitter.com/AlHOUU3m1l — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) April 19, 2024 “We have a very robust ..read more

NATO allies agreed to increase military aid to Ukraine, including providing more air defense systems, stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting. Russia has intensified its shelling of Ukraine in recent weeks, making the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense a critical issue. Defence Ministers met virtually in the #NATO–#Ukraine Council with President @ZelenskyyUa to address Kyiv’s critical need for more air defences. Allies agreed to step up & provide further military support, including air defence. I expect new announcements soon. pic.twitter ..read more

In his remarks to The Washington Post, the Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) chief, Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia would launch a large-scale offensive in June attempting to seize all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Ukraine’s two easternmost provinces known as the Donbas region. Budanov also stated that the Russians will aim to achieve battlefield gains to impact Western decision-making, focusing on the US November elections, “Until the inauguration of your president, they will try to get as much as possible of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk,” perhaps hoping that a re ..read more

RFL/RE’s investigative project Skhemy (Schemes) obtained satellite images from Planet Labs showing the aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on the military airfield in Russian-occupied Dzhankoi, Crimea. The images reveal damage near the Russian ammunition depot and air defense systems. “In the images, we see precision strikes on air defense assets that put them out of commission, as well as a hit on the Russian ammunition depot. It’s worth noting that after the strikes, most of the aircraft were relocated,” explained aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi in a comment to Skhemy. He added that, ju ..read more

On the morning of 19 April, after the Russian sources reported the crash of a Russian strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-22M3 Bakhfire in Russia’s Stavropol Krai, the Ukrainian Air Force Commander claimed shooting down the strategic bomber in mid-air while it was flying over Russia on a combat mission. “For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force in cooperation with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber, a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles used by Russian terrorists to hit peaceful Ukrainian cities. During today’s attack, two such mi ..read more

Ukraine requires $42 billion in budgetary support this year as it continues to battle the ongoing Russian invasion, according to Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking at the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington on 18 April, she indicated that support for Ukraine remains “steady” and “firm.” The EU and various countries, including the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, have stepped up to assist, according to Georgieva. “At this point, we assessed the needs for this year at $42 billion. We ha ..read more

Norway has launched a new grant program for Ukrainian NGOs and is allocating almost 6 million Euro for it. As reported by European Pravda, based on information provided by the Norwegian governmental press service. 70 million Kroons – almost 6 million Euro – are being allocated to finance a grant program to support projects of Ukrainian public organizations. The communiqué noted that many human rights, anti-corruption, humanitarian and other non-governmental organizations operate in Ukraine, and it is Ukrainian civil society that has been the main driver of democratic changes in the country du ..read more

CIA Director William Burns delivered a stark warning to US lawmakers on 18 April, stating that Ukraine could lose the war against Russia by the end of 2024 if Congress fails to approve crucial military assistance stalled for months, according to Politico. This warning comes as Ukraine expects a potential Russian offensive this summer and faces a lack of ammunition and missiles to defend against Russian aggression. The US military aid to Ukraine has been delayed more than six months. Speaking at an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Burns emphasized the importance of passing the ..read more