"Ukrainian authorities said they have dismantled an illegal arms trafficking network that allegedly funneled weapons to pro-Russian public figures and politicians, including U.S. actor Steven Seagal and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
The National Police of Ukraine said in an April 28 statement that the network sourced weapons from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and through illegal imports from Slovakia. Some of the weapons were distributed as so-called "prizes" by Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-installed administration in occupied Donetsk Oblast.
Police said the list of recipients includes a range of high-profile figures, including senior Russian officials and foreign leaders.
"Kim Jong-un, Bashar al-Assad, Dmitry Medvedev, Sergey Sobyanin, Sergey Lavrov, Ramzan Kadyrov, Steven Seagal, Yulia Chicherina, Vladimir Solovyov, Alexander Sidyakin, and Vladimir Saldo — these are the individuals who received 'prize' weapons from … Denis Pushilin," the statement said.
Seagal, who rose to fame as an action star in the 1980s and 1990s, later developed close ties to Russia and President Vladimir Putin as his Hollywood career declined." KI
"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 93 km (58 mi) from Fiji in the early morning at 3.28 am local time (GMT +12). The quake had a great depth of 409 km (254 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"189 clashes between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk directions, the Defense Forces repelled one enemy attack. The invaders carried out 86 shelling attacks, including five with MLRS, and launched six airstrikes using 15 guided aerial bombs.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna direction, the enemy launched eight assaults near Starytsia and toward Hrafske, Okhrimivka, Mala Vovcha, Chervona Zoria, and Bochkovе.
In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces attacked four times near Novoplatonivka and Kupiansk.In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian troops repelled six attempts by the invaders to advance near Drobysheve and Dibrova.
In the Sloviansk direction, the Defense Forces stopped six Russian attempts to advance near Yampil and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk and Orikhiv directions, Russian troops did not conduct active offensive operations.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 21 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Ivanopillia, and Pleshchiivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the Defense Forces stopped 48 assault actions by Russian forces near Novopavlivka, Sofiivka, Vilne, Novooleksandrivka, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Udachne, Muravka, and Novopidhorodne.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked six times near Oleksandrohrad, Stepove, Zlahoda, and Krasnohirsk.
In the Huliaipole direction, there were 29 Russian attacks near Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Dobropillia, Sviatopetrivka, Varvarivka, Staroukrainka, Olenokostiantynivka, Zelene, and toward Hirke and Charivne.
In the Prydniprovske direction, Ukrainian units stopped three enemy attacks toward Antonivka and Kruhlyk Island." Ukrin
"Drones attacked an oil refinery in Russia's Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai, sparking a massive fire at the strike site." Pravada
"A study by Ukraine's military ombudsman found that soldiers deployed for over 40 days on front-line positions develop apathy and "stop caring whether they survive or not," Ombudsman Olha Reshetylova said.
The findings come amid broader concerns over Ukraine's mobilization system, which has
faced persistent challenges in recruitment and rotation during the full-scale war. Ukraine's military has struggled with manpower shortages and prolonged deployments, with some troops remaining on positions for months due to a lack of replacements.
The research by the Office of the Military Ombudsman indicates that prolonged deployments lead to severe psychological strain, decreasing combat effectiveness.
"Everything beyond 40 days cannot be considered effective," Reshetylova said in an interview to Ukrainska Pravda, adding that commanders should take the findings into account.
She noted that existing regulations limit time on position to 15 days, but the rule is widely ignored, leaving some troops deployed for months or longer without rotation.
"This is a dead norm that no one follows, which in turn means there are effectively no limits," she said.
Reshetylova said her office is preparing proposals for Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi to revise rules governing time spent on front-line positions." KI
"Wind-driven ice shoves struck multiple lakes in Cheboygan County, Michigan, during an ongoing flooding event in April 2026, pushing onshore and into residential structures. The event is unfolding as elevated water levels from snowmelt and recent rainfall continue to drive flooding and evacuations across northern Michigan.Rising water levels allowed late-season lake ice to become mobile under strong winds, leading to reports of ice shoves across several lakes in the region. The ice moved into residential areas, adding stress to shoreline structures, and while fully verified impacts remain limited, the phenomenon has been confirmed within Cheboygan County, Michigan and along Lake Superior near Ashland and Washburn, Wisconsin.
On Mullett Lake in Cheboygan County, ice moved onto shore and into residential structures with little warning, destroying decks, exterior fixtures, and outbuildings." W
"A total of 226 combat clashes between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian troops were recorded on the frontline.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out three strikes using five guided aerial bombs and conducted 58 shelling attacks, including four from multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces launched 18 attacks near Vovchansk, Starytsia, and toward Ternova, Okhrimivka, Bochkovе, Novovasylivka, and Kolodiazne.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched four attacks near Novoosynove, Kindrashivka, and toward Kupiansk and Kivsharivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces made 13 attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses, attacking toward Drobysheve, Lyman, and Shyikivka.In the Sloviansk sector, Russian forces carried out assault operations near Zakitne and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Kryva Luka, and Ozernе.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops launched one attack toward Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 15 attacks near Pleshchiivka and Ivanopillia, as well as toward Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Vilne, and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 52 Russian assault attempts toward Bilytske, Zatyshok, Novе Shakhove, Dorozhnie, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novooleksandrivka, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Vasylivka, Muravka, Molodetske, Novopidhorodnie, Novopavlivka, Novyi Donbas, Pokrovsk, Udachne, and Serhiivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces carried out six attacks near Oleksandrohrad, Novohryhorivka, and toward Verbove and Yehorivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, there were 26 Russian attacks near Dobropillia, Pryluky, Olenokostiantynivka, Zaliznychne, Sviatopetrivka, Myrne, Tsvitkove, Charivne, and Huliaipole." Ukrin
"Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) carried out a large-scale special operation in occupied Crimea, striking three Russian military ships, a fighter jet, and key air defense facilities of Russia.
According to the SBU, the strikes damaged:・Large landing ships Yamal and Filchenkov
・Reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs
・MiG-31 aircraft at the Belbek airfield
・Technical and maintenance facility at the airfield
The attack also hit the Lukomka training center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the headquarters of the radio-technical intelligence unit of the air defense forces, and the Mys-M1 radar station." msn
"12 Russian FSB officers killed in Ukrainian drone strike on command post in occupied Donetsk." KI
"Mali's defense minister, Sadio Camara, who had close ties to Russia, was killed in an insurgent attack on his home near the capital, Bamako, a government spokesperson said April 26, as Russian forces withdrew from a northern town after clashes with rebels.
Camara was killed April 25 when assailants targeted his residence, the spokesperson said on state television the following day. According to Reuters, an affiliate of al Qaeda in West Africa claimed responsibility for the attack.
Camara had connections to Russia and the Wagner Group, the private military company whose Africa operations were later absorbed into the Africa Corps under Russia's defense ministry. The Africa Corps has played a central role in supporting Mali's ruling junta." KI
"A very strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit 140 km (87 mi) away from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, in the early morning at 5.23 am local time (GMT +9). The quake had a moderate depth of 81 km (50 mi) and was felt widely in the area." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean near the coast of Fiji in the early morning at 6.02 am local time (GMT +12). The quake had a very shallow depth of 5 km (3.1 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"161 combat engagements along the frontline.
The enemy carried out 54 airstrikes, dropping 168 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 3,401 kamikaze drones and conducted 1,902 shelling attacks on settlements and Ukrainian positions.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out 43 shelling attacks, including five using multiple launch rocket systems, and launched one assault.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian troops attempted four assaults toward the settlements of Starytsia, Lyman, Okhrimivka, and Zemlianky, with one battle still ongoing.
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled four enemy assaults near Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, and Kucherivka.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian forces stopped five attempts by Russian troops to advance toward Lyman and Dibrova.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 15 enemy assaults toward Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Sofiivka, Kucheriv Yar, and Rusyn Yar; three battles are still ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces launched 39 attacks, attempting to advance near the settlements of Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie, Muravka, Molodetske, and Filiia. Four clashes are still ongoing.
Preliminary estimates indicate that 35 Russian troops were killed and 23 wounded in this sector. Ukrainian forces also destroyed one vehicle and two enemy shelters, while damaging artillery, three vehicles, and around 100 personnel shelters. A total of 151 drones of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian troops launched six attacks in an attempt to improve their tactical positions near Oleksandrohrad, Khoroshe, Kalynivske, Sichneve, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 24 attacks were recorded near Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, Charivne, Pryluky, Staroukrainka, Hirke, Vozdvyzhivka, and Sviatopetrivka; three battles are still ongoing.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy made one attempt to advance near Stepove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian forces carried out three unsuccessful assaults." Ukrin
"Russian forces carried out a combined overnight strike on Chernihiv Oblast, killing two people and injuring seven others.
The city of Nizhyn was hit, with Russian forces attacking it with a ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Two men aged 30 and 60 were killed, and two people were injured." NI
"Russian Telegram channels said the target may have been the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, where explosions were heard. Witnesses also reported a drone flying toward the Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators, according to the Astra Telegram channel." NV
