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Poland said Wednesday it shot down drones that violated its airspace during Russia’s latest large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, forcing the temporary closure of four airports and putting its armed forces on the highest state of alert. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces claimed in a statement, “During today’s attack by the Russian Federation targeting Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drones.” “At the request of the operational commander, weapons have been used, and operations are under way to locate the downed targets”, the military said. Polish and NATO aircraft were scrambled, while ground-based air defence and radar systems were moved to maximum readiness. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that “an operation is under way related to multiple violations of Polish airspace.” Earlier, flights were suspended at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport, Modlin Airport, and Lublin Airport, according to notices on the US Federal Aviation Administration’s website. The Polish military did not directly mention the closures. Ukraine’s Air Force initially reported that Russian drones had crossed into Polish territory, posing a threat to the southeastern city of Zamosc. But  the statement was later removed later. Overnight, much of Ukraine — including western border regions Volyn and Lviv — was under extended air raid alerts. Border with Belarus to close amid Russian-led drillsSeparately, Poland said it will close its border with Belarus from midnight Thursday due to Russian-Belarusian military exercises known as “Zapad-2025,” scheduled to begin Friday in western Russia and Belarus. The drills have raised alarm in NATO countries bordering Belarus — Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the border would reopen only when the government is sure “there is no more threat to Polish citizens.” Belarus summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires to protest the move, calling it “an abuse of geographical position” that “caused significant difficulties.” Its Foreign Ministry said the suspension reflected “an intention to conceal one’s own actions rather than any real threat from Belarus.” Lithuania also announced it would tighten border security with both Belarus and Russia during the drills.

Russia has become the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, drawing sharp criticism from opposition figures and rights activists. The decisin marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban nearly four years after they seized control of Kabul and re-established their rule. Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed hope that Russia’s decision would encourage other nations to follow suit. So far, most countries have hesitated to recognise the Taliban administration due to its strict interpretation of Sharia law and severe restrictions on women and girls. Critics, however, have strongly condemned Moscow’s recognition. Former Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi warned that normalising relations with the Taliban would not bring peace but rather embolden impunity. She further cautioned that such actions could endanger both Afghan citizens and global security. The Afghan Women's Political Participation Network echoed these concerns, saying the recognition legitimises a "regime that is authoritarian, anti-women, and systematically dismantling basic civil rights." The Taliban maintains that they respect women's rights within the framework of their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law. However, since they regained power in 2021, girls above the age of 12 have been barred from receiving an education, and women have been excluded from many professions. Additional restrictions include limiting women’s ability to travel without a male guardian and bans on women raising their voices in public. Russia launches largest air attack on Kyiv since war began Muttaqi described Russia’s move, announced on Thursday, as the beginning of "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement," calling the decision "courageous." Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, highlighted prospects for expanded economic cooperation with Afghanistan in sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure. The ministry also pledged continued support to Kabul in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking. Unlike many other countries, Russia kept its embassy in Kabul open after the Taliban took power in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and allied troops. In 2022, Russia also became the first country to sign a major economic agreement with the Taliban, involving the supply of oil, gas, and wheat to Afghanistan. Earlier this year, in April, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, further paving the way for official engagement. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already referred to the Taliban as an "ally" in combating terrorism during remarks made in July last year. The relationship between the two countries, however, remains complex. The Soviet Union, led by Russia, invaded Afghanistan in 1979, leading to a devastating nine-year conflict that resulted in the deaths of approximately 15,000 Soviet troops. The Soviet-backed government installed in Kabul faced international condemnation, eventually forcing a Soviet withdrawal in 1989. In response to Russia’s latest decision, the Afghan Women's Political Participation Network recalled the Soviet invasion, saying they had not forgotten Russia’s role in Afghanistan’s destruction. The group accused Moscow of continuing its harmful interference under the guise of diplomacy. Former Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta also criticised Russia's recognition, calling it "regrettable." He warned that in the absence of widespread opposition, other countries might follow Russia’s example. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, the United Nations imposed strict sanctions on Afghanistan, including the freezing of around $9 billion in assets. The UN has condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, labelling the restrictions as "gender apartheid," while also reporting incidents of public floggings and brutal attacks on former government officials. Despite widespread international refusal to recognise the Taliban, some countries have maintained or adjusted their relations. Germany, for example, is considering re-establishing deportations of convicted Afghan criminals. Although Germany halted deportations after the Taliban’s return to power, politician Alexander Dobrindt said Thursday that Berlin should negotiate directly with Afghan authorities to resume deportations. However, the UN Human Rights Office warned on Friday that returning individuals to Afghanistan would be inappropriate, citing ongoing human rights violations under the Taliban regime. While most countries shut their embassies in Kabul after 2021, a few—including China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan—continue to maintain formal diplomatic representation by appointing ambassadors to Afghanistan. #With Inputs from BBC

At least two people were killed and 17 others injured after Russian drones targeted the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. Emergency services reported that a drone crashed into a residential high-rise, damaging three floors and trapping several residents. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that the victims were a married couple, while three children were among the injured. Russian Missile and Drone Strike Injures 20 in Kyiv Russia has not yet commented on the incident. However, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses intercepted over 40 Ukrainian drones overnight and into Saturday morning across western Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea. Drone strikes have become a defining feature of the war, now entering its fourth year. Both Russia and Ukraine have accelerated efforts to develop advanced and more lethal drones, turning the conflict into a battleground for testing new military technologies.    

A Russian general was killed by a car bomb on Friday, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency said, in the second such attack on a top Russian military officer in four months. The Investigative Committee said that Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow, reports AP. The committee's spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, said that the explosive device was rigged with shrapnel. She said that investigators were at the scene. Russian media ran videos of a vehicle burning in the courtyard of an apartment building. The committee did not mention possible suspects. Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine by resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Moskalik's killing as a “terror attack.” The attack follows the killing of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, who died on December 17 when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office. The Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the killing of Kirillov, and Ukraine's security agency acknowledged that it was behind that attack. Kirillov was the chief of Russia’s Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy’s use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the attack. Friday's bombing came just as US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, was expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss a US-brokered peace plan for Ukraine. The meeting is their fourth encounter since February.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of staging a false impression of an Easter ceasefire, despite continued military aggression across the front line. Speaking on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russian forces were still launching attacks even after President Vladimir Putin had publicly announced a unilateral truce for the holiday. "On Easter morning, it's clear the Russian army is trying to project an image of a ceasefire," Zelenskyy posted on X. "But in reality, they continue attempts to advance and inflict losses." Ukrainian forces recorded at least 59 shelling incidents and five assaults by Russian units, along with dozens of drone strikes, all taking place after Putin’s ceasefire declaration. Zelenskyy added that, although Ukraine reciprocated the ceasefire gesture, Russia has ramped up the use of heavy weaponry. He did, however, note that Easter morning passed without air raid sirens—an unusual and welcome pause. In one particularly deadly incident, several Ukrainian troops were killed in an ambush in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy vowed that the Russian soldiers responsible would be “eliminated.” Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed Ukrainian forces launched overnight attacks in the Donetsk area and flew 48 drones into Russian territory, causing civilian casualties. The ministry insisted Russian troops were fully observing the ceasefire. In Kherson, a Russian-occupied region in southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed officials also accused Ukraine of continuing attacks. Zelenskyy says Putin's vow on Ukraine's energy infrastructure unrealistic Zelenskyy called for Russia to honor the ceasefire in full and reiterated Ukraine’s offer to extend the truce for an additional 30 days beyond its scheduled end at midnight Sunday. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, there has been no response from Moscow. “Either Putin lacks control over his army, or Russia simply doesn’t intend to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. “This is just a PR stunt.” Just hours after announcing the ceasefire, President Putin attended an Easter service in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill—a vocal supporter of the war. Putin gave no specifics on how the ceasefire would be enforced, nor whether it included airstrikes or ground operations. His announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump commented that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head,” and said both sides were taking negotiations seriously. The U.S. State Department on Sunday reaffirmed its support for “a full and comprehensive ceasefire.” Officials highlighted recent peace discussions in Paris and confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared encouraging developments in a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.  

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin has said they remain committed to partnering with Dhaka in realising its vision of a prosperous nation by contributing to the country's food and energy security, as well as cooperating internationally on a range of essential issues. "Mutual affinity, respect and understanding define our multifaceted ties for the benefit of peoples of Russia and Bangladesh," he said in a message. The Ambassador said Bangladesh-Russia relations have a solid basis which goes back to the early 1970's. Warmly congratulating the friendly Bangladeshi people on Independence Day, the Russian Ambassador said the chequered history of Bangladesh is full of amasing acts of resilience and patriotism of the Bangladeshi people. "Over more than half a century, your country has gone through fundamental political, economic and social changes," he said. Putin eyes Dhaka-Moscow productive ties to strengthen regional security, stability Today, Ambassador Khozin said, Bangladesh has become a role model in the Global South in combating poverty reduction and climate change, promoting education and women’s empowerment, contributing to regional connectivity and respectful dialogue in the global arena.

A 50-tonne capacity bridge crane for the second unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is ready for shipment from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, said Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear agency. Earlier, modern electric gantry cranes with lifting capacities of 16 and 32 tonnes were delivered to the port. The equipment was manufactured in Russia and will be used for loading and unloading operations at the Rooppur project. Before shipment, the specialists of the Rosatom Engineering Division and VPO ZAES conducted a thorough inspection of all the components to ensure compliance with high quality and safety standards “We adhere to high quality and reliability standards. The supply of equipment to Rooppur NPP confirms the company's ability to perform complex tasks in the framework of international projects,” said Vladimir Popov, Deputy General Director of Atomenergoremont. Seventh batch of uranium for RNPP arrives in Rooppur amid tight security Atomenergoremont is a part of Rosenergoatom's management circuit, Electric Power Division of Rosatom State Corporation is the main specialized maintenance company of the Russian nuclear industry and acts as General Contractor for maintenance and repair of equipment of nuclear power plants and other industrial and energy enterprises. Bangladesh's first-ever nuclear power plant is being implemented at Rooppur with Russia's technical and financial support. Graft in RNPP project: HC issues rule over ACC’s inaction in probe The plant will host two units each of 1,200Mwe capacity with 3+ generation VVER 1200 reactors. The first unit is getting ready for fuel loading and subsequent start-up in the near future, said Rosatom.

The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscow’s agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia. The administration's decision marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures in an apparent effort to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The suspension of U.S. assistance came days after Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump argued about the conflict in a tense White House meeting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has so far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions. “We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no," Rubio told reporters after the talks. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.” Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, added: "The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.” Tuesday's discussions, which lasted for nearly eight hours, appeared to put to rest — for the moment at least — the animosity between Trump and Zelenskyy that erupted during the Oval Office meeting last month. Ukraine-US talks begin in KSA amid ongoing conflict Waltz said the negotiators “got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end,” including long-term security guarantees. And, he said, Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of dollars of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing. Seeking a deal with Russia Trump said he hoped that an agreement could be solidified “over the next few days.” “I’ve been saying that Russia’s been easier to deal with so far than Ukraine, which is not supposed to be the way it is," Trump said later Tuesday. "But it is, and we hope to get Russia. But we have a full ceasefire from Ukraine. That’s good.” The Kremlin had no immediate comment on the U.S. and Ukrainian statements. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said only that negotiations with U.S. officials could take place this week. Trump 's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change. Officials met in Saudi Arabia only hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones in Ukraine’s biggest attack since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion. Neither U.S. nor Ukrainian officials offered any comment on the barrage. Russia also launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscow’s relentless pounding of civilian areas. Zelenskyy renews calls for lasting peace In an address posted shortly after Tuesday's talks ended, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to a lasting peace, emphasizing that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset. “Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible — securely and in a way that ensures war does not return,” Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who led the Ukrainian delegation, described the negotiations as positive. He said the two countries “share the same vision, and that we are moving in the same direction toward the just peace long awaited by all Ukrainians.” In Kyiv, Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be “reasonable.” Moscow faces ‘massive’ drone attack ahead of US-Ukraine peace talks “We had massive losses during this war, and we don’t know yet how much more we’ll have,” she told The Associated Press. “We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we don’t know how the future generation will be affected.” Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard. “If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again,” he said. Hawkish Russians push back against a ceasefire In Moscow, hawkish politicians and military bloggers spoke strongly against a prospective ceasefire, arguing that it would play into Kyiv’s hands and damage Moscow’s interests at a time when the Russian military has the advantage. “A ceasefire isn’t what we need,” wrote hardline ideologue Alexander Dugin. Viktor Sobolev, a retired general who is a member of the Russian parliament’s lower house, warned that a 30-day truce would allow Ukraine to beef up arms supplies and regroup its troops before resuming hostilities. Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political commentator, suggested that Moscow could demand a halt on Western arms supplies to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire. “An embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine could be a condition for a truce,” he wrote. The Kremlin sticks to its conditions for peace Russia has not publicly offered any concessions. Putin has repeatedly declared that Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement, not a temporary truce. Russia has said it’s ready to cease hostilities on the condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory. What to know ahead of the talks between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

President Donald Trump on Friday called for an "immediate" ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and cautioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue peace or risk losing U.S. support. Trump stated that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, is prepared to negotiate a peace agreement. Why Trump administration may want Ukraine’s minerals His remarks follow a tense Oval Office meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for being "disrespectful" before unexpectedly canceling a planned minerals deal with Ukraine. In a Fox News interview, Zelenskyy maintained that Ukraine would not engage in peace talks with Russia until it receives security guarantees to prevent future attacks.

Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and military commanders, as the U.S. shifted its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kellogg's trip came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, and talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters. Trump’s comments are likely to vex Ukrainian officials, who have urged the world to help them fight Russia’s full-scale invasion that began Feb. 24, 2022. The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months. A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia's bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Trump told reporters at his Florida residence Tuesday that Ukraine “should have never started” the war and “could have made a deal” to prevent it. Kellogg said his visit was “a chance to have some good, substantial talks.” Zelenskyy canceled his planned Wednesday trip to Saudi Arabia in what some analysts saw as an attempt to deny legitimacy to the U.S.-Russia talks about the future of his country. American officials have signaled that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO in order to ward off Russian aggression after reaching a possible peace agreement won’t happen. Zelenskyy says any settlement will require U.S. security commitments to keep Russia at bay. “We understand the need for security guarantees,” Kellogg said in comments carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv train station. “It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well. ... Part of my mission is to sit and listen,” the retired three-star general said. Kellogg said he would convey what he learns on his visit to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “and ensure that we get this one right.”