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Volodymyr Prokopiv, deputy head of the Kyiv city administration, was charged by law enforcement agencies on April 17 over a suspected scheme to smuggle draft-age men abroad, Suspilne reported, citing undisclosed law enforcement sources.
Multiple Ukrainian outlets reported the news, with Suspilne sharing photos of law enforcement officers visiting Prokopiv to announce the charges.
Under martial law, which was instituted at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Ukrainian men aged 18-60 are not permitted to leave the country, barring special circumstances.
Law enforcement agencies have uncovered multiple schemes involving the illegal smuggling of fighting-age men abroad over the past three years.
Prokopiv has been a key figure in other controversies.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko suspended Prokopiv back in October 2024 after investigative outlet Bihus.Info published an investigation into suspicious real estate acquisitions by the official's family members.
The official wrote a resignation letter shortly after the scandal last year.
‘Significant progress’ — Ukraine, US to conclude minerals deal in ‘near future,’ Deputy PM says
“We have now agreed with the U.S. side to affirm this positive development by a relevant memorandum of intent — we are preparing a formal conclusion of the deal in the near future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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10:54 AM
Trump's DC attorney pick made over 150 appearances on Kremlin propaganda outlets.
U.S. President Donald Trump's candidate for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, frequently offered views on RT and Sputnik that aligned with Kremlin narratives, including echoing Moscow's grievances about NATO and the war against Ukraine.
10:41 AM
Top Kyiv official reportedly charged over illegal border crossing scheme.
Volodymyr Prokopiv, deputy head of the Kyiv city administration, was charged by law enforcement agencies on April 17 over suspected schemes to smuggle draft-age men abroad, Suspilne reported, citing undisclosed law enforcement sources.
9:57 AM
Ukraine seeks US support in regaining control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, joint energy projects.
"We have a common interest with the United States to bring Zaporizhzhia NPP under Ukrainian control and start the operation of this nuclear power plant," Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said.
9:31 AM
Top Ukrainian officials arrive in Paris for talks with European, US officials.
Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrived in Paris on April 17 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and meet visiting U.S. officials.
9:08 AM
Putin praises Musk as visionary, likens him to Soviet-era space icon Korolov.
"You know, there is such a person, he lives in the States, (Elon) Musk, who, you could say, raves about Mars," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
8:52 AM
EU fails to agree on sanctions on Russian LNG, Reuters reports.
The EU has shelved the idea of banning Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports due to opposition from some members and uncertainty about alternative supplies, Reuters reported on April 16, citing undisclosed official sources.
8:24 AM
UK to support Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Telegraph reports.
The United Kingdom would support a potential German decision to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, the Telegraph reported on April 16, citing an undisclosed British foreign policy official.
8:17 AM
General Staff: Russia has lost 937,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 1,230 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
12:25 AM
(Updated: April 17, 2025 7:45 am)
3 killed, 30 injured in Russian drone attack on Dnipro.
Three people have been killed and 30 have been injured in Dnipro amid a Russian drone attack late on April 16.
6:52 AM
EU warns Serbia not to attend Russia's victory parade.
European Union officials have warned on April 15 that Serbia could be blocked from joining the EU if its president travels to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin's May 9 Victory Parade.
5:15 AM
Nearly 102,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation.
Russian independent media outlet, Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 101,833 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.
3:05 AM
Duda dismisses threats against Poland, Baltics as Russian disinformation.
"Russia, which is behaving aggressively towards NATO and implementing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, has been attacking Ukraine for three years," Polish President Andrzej Duda said.
1:51 AM
3 Azov POWs sentenced to up to 24 years in occupied territories.
Vladislav Ruchka, Andriy Yaroshinsky, and Dmytro Ihnatenko have been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison by Russian proxies in Donetsk.
11:29 PM
Trump extends US sanctions on Russian ships for another year.
"I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the Russian Federation and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of Russian-affiliated vessels to United States ports," a U.S. Federal Register document says.
10:14 PM
US shuts down office combating Russian disinformation, Rubio says.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on April 16 the closure of the State Department’s office responsible for countering foreign disinformation, citing concerns about free speech and the rights of American citizens.
9:46 PM
Former Kursk Oblast governor arrested for embezzlement in Ukraine border fortifications.
Former Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov and his deputy Alexei Dedov are accused of embezzling over a billion rubles ($12 million) from the budget allocated to the Kursk Oblast Development Corporation for the construction of fortifications on the border with Ukraine.
9:04 PM
Over 40% of Ukrainian forces' weapons domestically produced, Zelensky says.
"The trend is unchanged: Ukraine will do more and more (weapons) to guarantee its security — on its own and together with partners," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
8:25 PM
Russian forces executed unarmed Ukrainian POW in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors say.
Ukrainian prosecutors have launched a war crimes investigation after a captured and unarmed Ukrainian soldier was allegedly executed by Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on April 16.
8:14 PM
Ex-deputy head of Presidential Office charged with new offenses, including money laundering, bribery.
A former deputy head of the Presidential Office was charged with money laundering and taking a particularly large bribe, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau's (NABU) said in a statement published on April 16.
8:07 PM
India targets traditional Russian arms customers with cheap loans, Reuters reports.
India is developing a new strategy to boost its defense exports, offering long-term, low-cost loans through its state-owned Export-Import Bank to foreign buyers, including those traditionally reliant on Russian arms, Reuters reported on April 16, citing officials familiar with the plan.
7:08 PM
EU confirms discussions on possible deployment of 'military advisors' to Ukraine.
The European Union is considering sending "military advisors" to Ukraine to organize training for the Ukrainian military, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said on April 16 at a press briefing in Brussels.
7:06 PM
Russia has violated ‘energy ceasefire’ more than 30 times, Ukraine says.
Russia has violated a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure more than 30 times since it was agreed in March, targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine, a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on April 16.
Chinese POWs captured by Ukraine on fighting for Russia.
The Kyiv Independent attended a press conference with the captured Chinese prisoners of war on April 14 to learn more about their service in the Russian military — and has highlighted the key takeaways for you.
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