Almost 20 Ukrainian children brought back from Russian-occupied territories and Russia over the past week
Ukraine has brought back 19 children and teenagers from Russian-occupied territories and Russia over the past week, the humanitarian group Save Ukraine reported on April 16. The organization said the children had faced pressure, intimidation, and attempts to erase their identity, adding that they are now safe in Ukrainian-controlled areas.
Among those rescued was 11-year-old Emiliia, who was reportedly forced to participate in pro-Russian militarized school events and faced bullying when she refused. Seventeen-year-old Matvii was allegedly threatened after refusing to sing the Russian national anthem and had to hide from patrols searching for boys his age. A 19-year-old, Sofiia, was also returned after facing harassment for expressing a pro-Ukrainian identity.
According to Ukraine’s “Children of War” database, at least 20,000 children have been taken from occupied territories since 2022, while officials say the real number could be significantly higher. In response, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over their alleged role in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
Russia is trying to draw Belarus into its war again, Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Belarus is increasing military activity near Ukraine’s northern border, including building roads toward Ukrainian territory and preparing artillery positions. The statement came after a briefing from Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to Zelensky, these developments may indicate attempts by Russian-backed forces to regroup and compensate for manpower shortages. He suggested that Moscow could again try to involve Belarus more directly in the war, raising concerns about a potential escalation from the north—an area Ukraine has already fortified heavily since the early stages of the invasion.
Zelensky said Ukraine has already warned Belarus’s leadership that Kyiv is ready to defend its territory and independence. He also cautioned Minsk against making decisions that could draw it deeper into the conflict, stressing that recent international developments should serve as a warning about the consequences of escalation.
Oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline may resume next week, Peter Magyar
Russian oil supplies to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline may resume as early as next week after being halted for several months, according to Bloomberg. Incoming Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said that Zsolt Hernadi had indicated flows could restart soon, and that he plans to travel to Russia to discuss supply issues.
The pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to Central Europe, has been offline since January after being damaged in a Russian drone strike. Magyar stressed that restarting operations alone is not enough, noting that stable oil deliveries must also be secured.
The disruption became a political issue during Hungary’s election campaign, with outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban accusing Kyiv of delaying repairs. Magyar said he expects Orbán to lift his veto on certain EU decisions once supplies resume, while Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that oil flows could be restored by the end of April.
Russia is preparing to carry out potentially seven large-scale strikes on Ukraine per month
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has warned that Russia may soon intensify its aerial campaign, potentially launching large-scale attacks up to seven times per month, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Sybiha said a “large-scale attack” typically involves at least 400 drones along with around 20 missiles. He added that intelligence assessments indicate Russia is preparing to carry out such strikes regularly in the near future.
At the same time, Sybiha noted that Ukraine’s air defense remains highly effective, intercepting up to 90% of incoming aerial threats during these attacks.