Armed Forces of Ukraine

President Zelenskyy reported that Russia is trying to create an impression of silence, but active battles continue at the front. According to Syrskyi, the enemy carried out hundreds of shellings and dozens of assaults recently.

The EU skeptically assessed Putin's statement about the "Easter truce". The European Union stated that Russia must prove its intentions to stop aggression with real actions, as words do not correspond to reality.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian assaults continue on some parts of the front and artillery fire does not subside. Ukraine does not trust Moscow's words and is ready to respond mirror-like to every strike.

As a result of the 63rd exchange and actions outside of it, 277 Ukrainians have been returned: 246 soldiers were exchanged, 31 were released separately. These are defenders from different directions who will now meet Easter at home.

President Zelenskyy announced the return of 277 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity. Among those released are servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards who defended various fronts.

On the night of April 19, Russia attacked Ukraine with 95 aerial targets, including missiles and 87 drones. Air defense shot down 33 "Shaheds", 36 drones were accounted for otherwise; there are affected regions.

During the day on April 18, 162 combat engagements occurred on the front. The most active was the Pokrovsk direction with 54 battles, the enemy also carried out 103 airstrikes and used 2855 drones.

The Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated another 1180 Russian occupiers over the past day. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army has lost 940,150 servicemen, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

Ukrainian troops advanced near Toretsk, while Russian occupiers had success in several directions. According to ISW data, Russian advances were recorded near Kupyansk, Lyman, Kurakhove, and in the Kursk region.

A Russian court in St. Petersburg sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to two years and eight months in prison for condemning the war against Ukraine. She was found guilty of repeated "discreditation" of the Russian army through protest actions.

Over the past day, April 18, 124 combat engagements occurred on the front. The greatest enemy activity was recorded in the Pokrovsk direction, where the enemy carried out 46 attacks during the day.

Kyiv police detained two 17-year-old teenagers who beat a serviceman in the hydropark. A group of young men provoked a conflict, knocked the man to the ground and beat him.

Convicted of the murder of activist Artem Myroshnychenko were released early to serve in the Armed Forces. The court released Mykola Barabash and Oleksandr Baryshko, who expressed a desire to serve.

A conscript in Kyiv provoked a fight with a military officer of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, using a gas canister. The offender has been declared wanted for attacking and obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

National resistance training centers will operate in every region of Ukraine. The heads of the centers will be appointed by regional councils on the proposal of the regional state administration.

According to the NACS, 8% of civil servants have been mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Unfortunately, Ukraine has lost more than 120 civil servants among those mobilized.

According to the head of the CMA, the intensity of shelling in Pokrovsk is extremely high, all entrances are controlled by drones. The enemy is hunting people with FPV drones.

Over the past day, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 1,530 Russian soldiers, and also destroyed 8 tanks and a large number of artillery systems and armored combat vehicles of the enemy. Most of the combat clashes took place in the Pokrovsky direction.

As of April 18, 2025, no enemy ships were recorded in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Three Russian missile carriers with Kalibr cruise missiles are on duty in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is working on a register of mental health professionals for the military. The register will contain verified information about qualifications, capabilities and services.

The Russian army achieved success in Donetsk region, advancing near Rozlyv and Kostiantynopol. The day before, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated a lot of equipment and occupiers during the Russian offensive on Pokrovsk.

Russia has intensified propaganda in schools in the occupied territories. Children are told that the Ukrainian language and symbols are "extremism", which is punishable.

President Zelenskyy stated that in 1992, Ukraine had 225 air defense systems, but by 2019 their number had decreased to about 60. Most disappeared between 2000 and 2019.

On April 17, the Russian army attacked Pokrovsk, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled the attack. According to Zelensky, 115 pieces of equipment were destroyed and 200 occupiers were eliminated.

An expert spoke about the anti-achievements of NABU in 10 years. The cost of maintenance exceeds the returned funds many times over, the management is involved in scandals, and the trust of Ukrainians is lost.

Russian troops are using "Shahed" drones with capsules of poisonous substance CS, which causes irritation of the respiratory tract. Ukrainians are advised not to touch the wreckage of downed UAVs.

A missile alert has been declared in Ukraine due to the takeoff of the MiG-31K, carrier of aeroballistic missiles "Kinzhal". Air raid alert sounds in all regions of the country.

Russian occupiers changed tactics and launched assault operations in southern Ukraine. 29 units of equipment and 140 occupiers were destroyed, Ukrainian positions were held.

Russian troops shelled 10 settlements in Donetsk region, killing two people. Dozens of residential buildings and civilian objects were damaged.

Over the past day, 125 combat clashes took place at the front, a third of which were in the Pokrovsky and Lyman directions. The enemy launched 94 air strikes and involved 2,764 kamikaze drones.