Exclusive
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As Hungary blocks Ukraine's €90 billion, the EU quietly splits into two tiers—one for 27 members, one for 26. The €90 billion standoff may be the moment the multi-speed Europe that Brussels has avoided becomes unavoidable. |
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50% profit tax, no dividends, no new licenses—Eastern European fintechs are buying Ukrainian banks anyway. Eastern European fintechs are betting on Ukraine's reconstruction while the war continues. |
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Sweden to send Tridon anti-air cannon to Ukraine to gain valuable experience for its drone defense. Sweden introducing mobile air defense doctrine focused on anti-drone capabilities. |
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Occupied Donetsk's drinking water crisis is so bad that Russia is now proposing heavy-metal-laced mine drainage as a substitute. Ukraine linked the pattern explicitly to officials' interest in maintaining their posts and access to financial flows from Moscow, rather than solving the underlying crisis. |
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Why is a French sugar giant—with a former president on payroll—still supplying Russian military?. Its Russian subsidiaries made camouflage nets and anti-drone equipment—while a former French president is on the payroll. |
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Russia's 2026 war plan had two objectives. Ukraine is wrecking both.. With nine months left in 2026, the Kremlin has its sights set on two main objectives in the east and south. Neither is easy. |
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As Russia breaks air attack record, Ukraine's interception rate climbs to 90%. Defense Ministry credits new air defense systems and further development of proven ones. |
Military
Russia's 14th general killed since war began. His An-26 may have been shot down by Russia's own air defense. He was the commander of the Northern Fleet's mixed aviation corps.
Russia paid 206 troops for every Ukrainian square kilometer gained in March. Last summer it paid 61 — expert. Russia lost 31,960 troops in March for 155 square kilometers.
Russia claims full capture of Luhansk Oblast for the third time — Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade notes it's still holding the line there. ISW confirms Ukrainian forces control the last 0.16% of the oblast, including the settlements of Nadiya and Novoyehorivka, which Russia's military grouping Zapad claimed to have "liberated" on 1 April.
The hottest point on 1,200 km of front — and Ukraine just held it for another week, top commander says. Four brigades repelled 291 Russian attacks across multiple sub-sectors of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area, prompting a personal visit from the commander-in-chief.
March from hell: Ukraine hits 10 refineries, 12 air defense systems, 5 Russian factories, halting missile chip supply for 6 months (MAP). Ukraine hit more strategic Russian targets in March than any previous month.
Ukraine's drones return to Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Ufa 1,300+ km from the front — the primary distillation unit is burning again. Without the AVT unit, which performs the first stage of crude processing, the rest of the refinery cannot operate.
Intelligence and technology
Ukraine ramps up engineering mines and UAV ammo—Q1 2026 already surpasses 50% of 2025 supply. Minister Mykhailo Fedorov: "Military needs these items in large quantities, so we continue to scale up supply."
Ukraine just doubled rewards for eliminating Russian drone operators — exchangeable for EW equipment and robotics. Remove the operator before the drone launches, and the weapon never flies. Ukraine has decided that logic is worth paying double for.
International
"The last thread that keeps us anchored in a toxic, bitter past" — Moldova's parliament votes to leave the post-Soviet CIS bloc. Parliament backed the denunciation of the founding agreements 60 to 17 on 2 April, with Communists and Socialists the only bloc voting against.
Political and legal developments
Kremlin: Russia is forming new military units for "everyone," including students. Reports say university rectors were told to push 2% of students into the army: up to 76,000 soldiers.
Humanitarian and social impact
Occupied Donetsk's drinking water crisis is so bad that Russia is now proposing heavy-metal-laced mine drainage as a substitute. Ukraine linked the pattern explicitly to officials' interest in maintaining their posts and access to financial flows from Moscow, rather than solving the underlying crisis.
Read our earlier daily review here.
