Rheinmetall plans to open at least 4 plants in Ukraine (2024)

Russia attacks 4 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces struck four communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in seven separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on April 21. There were no casualties or damages to civilian infrastructure.

Chisinau airport evacuated following bomb threat.

Passengers and staff were evacuated from the Chisinau International Airport in Moldova's capital on April 21 due to an explosion threat.

9:28 PM

Ukraine war latest: US House passes $61 billion in aid for Ukraine; Navy confirms Russian ship hit in Sevastopol

Russian attack in Kharkiv injures man.

A 19-year-old Kharkiv resident sustained shrapnel injuries in his legs and is currently hospitalized in moderate condition.

Zelensky: US aid gives Ukraine 'chance at victory.'

"I think this support will really strengthen the armed forces, I pray, and we will have a chance at victory if Ukraine really gets the weapons system, which we need so much, which thousands of soldiers need so much."

Senator: US could start sending ATACMS to Kyiv in 1 week.

The United States could begin transferring long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine "by the end of the week," U.S. Senator Mark Warner told CBS News in an interview published April 21.

Russian attacks in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injure woman.

A 47-year-old woman in the Nikopol district sustained mine-blast injuries and is currently being treated in the hospital, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Bloomberg: Blinken to warn Beijing over support for Russia in upcoming trip to China.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said earlier in April that there would be "significant consequences" if Chinese companies aid Russia's war effort.

Poland, Lithuania, other NATO allies begin military exercise around Suwalki Gap.

The exercise was jointly planned in 2022 by the Polish and Lithuanian militaries and involves at least 1,500 troops and hundreds of pieces of equipment, the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT said.

Germany, Lithuania scouring closed power plants for parts for Ukraine.

Decommissioned power plants in Germany and Lithuania are being examined to see if parts can be salvaged and sent to Kyiv in order to repair and restore Ukrainian energy infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes.

1:49 PM

Ukraine aid bill finally passes the House – what happens next?

Update: Ukraine's Navy confirms Russian ship Kommuna hit in Sevastopol.

A missile was launched at the Russian Black Sea Fleet stationed in occupied Sevastopol on April 21, the city’s Russian-installed governor has said. A source in Ukraine’s military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent that information on the strike was still being clarified.

Russia attacks 20 settlements in Kherson Oblast, 1 injured.

In a post on Telegram, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said 12 private houses had been damaged as well as an educational institution, a restaurant and a gas pipeline.

General Staff: Russia has lost 459,530 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 950 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

ISW: Russia likely to intensify offensives amid closing window of Ukrainian material constraints.

Russian forces have maintained and, in some areas, intensified ongoing offensive operations, likely to exploit persisting Ukrainian materiel shortages before the arrival of promised Western security assistance, the Institute for the Study of War said in its April 20 report.

Politico: US considers deploying extra military advisers to Ukraine.

The United States is contemplating the deployment of additional military advisers to the embassy in Kyiv as Russia appears to be gaining momentum on the front lines. These advisers would not serve in combat capacities.

Mediazona confirms identities of over 50,400 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Through open-source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 50,471 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia attacks 13 communities in Sumy Oblast, injuring 1.

Russian forces struck 13 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 54 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on April 20. At least 283 explosions were reported in Sumy Oblast over the past 24 hours.

NATO's Stoltenberg, European leaders laud House passage of Ukraine aid bill.

European leaders praised the passage of a $60.84 billion Ukraine aid bill by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 20, but some caution that Europe must urgently ramp up support for Ukraine.

Zelensky praises US House for passing Ukraine aid bill.

"Certainly, we will use American support to strengthen both our nations and bring a just end to this war - a war that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must lose," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 20.

US House approves bill to transfer seized Russian assets to Ukraine.

The U.S. House of Representatives on April 20 passed a bill that would allow the seizure and transfer of frozen Russian assets held in the U.S. to Ukraine.

BREAKING: US House passes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine

UPDATED: Russian missile attack on Odesa injures 8, including 2 children.

Russian forces hit a residential area in Odesa with a missile attack, wounding eight people, including two children, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported on April 20.

Zelensky: Ukraine could sign bilateral security agreements with US, Nordic, Baltic states in near future.

The president said Ukraine is moving towards "an important agreement with the U.S.," adding that the agreement could happen after Congress approves the $61 aid bill for Ukraine that awaits an upcoming vote on April 20.

5:55 PM

Ukraine's obsolete S-200 missile systems reportedly back on track to hit Russian targets