Soldier Turned Academic Explains why War with Russia was Inevitable

A Ukrainian academic turned soldier turned academic has held on tightly to his conviction that no matter what is happening in international affairs, war with Russia is inevitable.

And thus we have another drastic explanation, clarification or justification why more than a decade ago I selected as the name for my blog “The Torn Curtain 1991.”

Yes, 35 years ago, the Ukrainian nation declared its independence and sovereignty from the Russian empire after centuries of subjugation. History has taught us that in the course of those centuries every flash of Ukrainian independence and the germination of a Ukrainian state in one fell swoop Russia – tsarist, communist or putinist – destroyed it. And for the most part, until now, Moscow was at least temporarily successful. In the 20^th century alone, Ukrainians several times established and reestablished their national statehood only to be vanquished each time by Russia with the naïve aid of Western allies.

On November 9, 1989, the infamous Berlin Wall, the ultimate barrier between Russia and the free nations, between evil and good, was destroyed by the people, and the captive nations cheered their new found freedoms. The Iron Curtain was torn down and trampled on.

However, was that the end of the division and oppression? Fortunately, for some, especially those who were destined for membership in NATO, their path to freedom and independence had triumphantly concluded and the western powerhouses assured it.

In the past, Ukraine – independent or not – was left out in the cold, only to be re-subjugated by Moscow. With Russian aggressive desires not slaked, Ukraine was bound to become enslaved again. Those attempts resumed 14 years ago in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea and then four years ago across the country. Thus, for Ukraine, the Iron Curtain was not destroyed; it was merely torn, leaving gaps for Russia soldiers, tanks and artillery to invade Ukraine again.

Ihor “Batko” Zhaloba, who enlisted to fight against the Russian invaders in 2014, foresaw the inevitability of war with Russia but apparently no one was able to prevent it. He explained that Russia’s historical path was preordained for war and Ukraine has been its primary target.

In a recent article by Julia Struck-Feshchenko in the Kyiv Post, Zhaloba, explained that when Russia launched its full-scale invasion 2022, he did not hesitate to enlist. He volunteered to defend Ukraine and served until he was demobilized at the age of 60.

Zhaloba spent decades studying Russian history before volunteering to fight it. His verdict: Europe remains dangerously unprepared, and Ukraine is the continent’s last line of defense.

Ihor Zhaloba – known by the callsign “Batko” (Father) – is a Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of History of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Ukraine of the Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He is also a teaching professor in the Department of International Relations at Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University and president of the Ukrainian branch of the Pan-European Movement.

Today, he has returned to academic life at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, while continuing to lecture across Europe, raise awareness about the war, support Ukraine through volunteer work, and honor fallen comrades.

He also serves as president of the Ukrainian branch of the Pan-European Movement – a political and cultural initiative founded in 1922 to promote European unity in response to nationalism and conflict.

A professor of history and its in-depth student, Zhaloba enunciated that another Russian war against Ukraine was unavoidable. “My professional background led me to conclude that war was inevitable,” he said. “For me, it was only a matter of time before these two antagonistic models – Ukrainian and Russian – would collide.”

“I had studied Russian history for many years. As a historian, I understood the mentality and way of life of that country. The principle ‘we will not stand at any cost – we need victory’ can be consistently traced throughout the history of the Muscovite state and, later, Russia,” he said.

“This is the mode of existence of that state: it must expand its borders. In peacetime, it has nothing to sustain itself with. They have not even built proper sanitation infrastructure to this day, and struggle to organize their internal life. Therefore, Russians go elsewhere to seize what they are incapable of creating themselves.”

Until February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its latest invasion of Ukraine, Zhaloba said a large number of Ukrainians did not fully realize that Ukrainians had already been at war since 2014. “Back then, it felt distant to many of us – just as it still feels distant for many Europeans today,” he said.

“In December 2021, I told my students – whom I taught in the course ‘Civilizational Dimension of Modern International Relations’ – that there would be a major war with Russia.” Later, his students told him: “Ihor Volodymyrovych, back then we didn’t believe you.”

“This is the mode of existence of that state: it must expand its borders. In peacetime, it has nothing to sustain itself with. They have not even built proper sanitation infrastructure to this day, and struggle to organize their internal life. Therefore, Russians go elsewhere to seize what they are incapable of creating themselves.

“I also recalled the Russian philosopher Vasily Rozanov, who once said: ‘Why would you need freedom? Freedom is necessary for substance, so that it can develop – but what kind of freedom, and to what end, is it for something without substance? And Russian society, after all, has no substance.’ In that sense, they do not need freedom, because there is nothing to develop – Russian society is empty.”

While Russia was also facing its own internal struggles, he said Ukrainian society, meanwhile, has managed to overcome economic and political challenges. Since 2001, Ukrainians have ensured economic growth while preserving their freedom – and they value it, because it allows their “substance” to develop.

“This represents an existential threat to the Russian model, in which Ukrainians have always been perceived as ‘younger brothers,’ incapable of independent existence and supposedly needing the ‘guiding hand’ of big brother Russia,” he elaborated.

Since the presidency of Boris Yeltsin, he continued, there were expectations in Russia that Ukraine would collapse and return “on its knees” in exchange for cheap gas, timber, and other resources. “These expectations were never fulfilled,” he pointed out.

For him, Russia is the last colonial empire. “History shows that all colonial empires eventually collapse, and Russia should be no exception. However, it is not a classic colonial empire like the Roman or British empires,” he added.

Zhaloba elaborated that Russia would need to be an external shock – some form of defeat – that triggers internal instability. For example, Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 led to the revolution of 1905-1907. Similarly, the strain of World War I triggered the February Revolution, followed by the October Revolution in 1917.

“However, even if Russia begins to fragment, Ukraine would still have to continue fighting and maintain forces to stabilize its borders,” he said.

Why is the West so afraid of Russia’s collapse? Replying to his question, because it would likely be chaotic, uncontrolled, and extremely violent – especially given the presence of nuclear weapons. Many oppressed peoples within Russia could seek revenge against those who dominated them. The consequences would be brutal and destabilizing, affecting not only the region but the wider world.

His optimism and dedication are fed by his being a teacher and love of working with his students. “For 30 years, I have been telling them: ‘Take responsibility – your future, your life, your country are in your hands.’ So what then – should I have left and gone abroad? For me, my students are like my children. Who, then, was supposed to stand up for them?”

It’s teachers, historians and soldiers like Ihor Zhaloba who imbue current and future generations of Ukrainians with an indelible sense of patriotism.This is why President Zelenskyy is demanding strict, permanent security guarantees for his country and nation. If President Trump and the West don’t want to face another case of Russian inevitability then it behooves them to accept Kyiv’s insistence of strict security guarantees. 

Another Painful Nod to Russia: It’s not ‘Aggression’ but a ‘Situation’ and ‘Conflict’

In the White House’s continuing effort to rewrite history and downplay Russia’s role in global and regional aggression, the United States voted in favor of Moscow’s amendment to an International Labor Organization (ILO) resolution that eliminated the word “aggression” from a clause describing Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine while replacing it with the meaningless word “situation,.” according to the website Geneva Solutions.

Russia, which was referred to as an aggressor in the original version, would be recast as a “party to the conflict.” Washington endorsed all of Russia’s efforts to rewrite the narrative and redefine the nature of the war, the website stated.

Since its adoption in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion, the resolution has been renewed twice a year at sessions of the ILO Governing Body in Geneva, each time by a large majority. Following Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office,, Washington first distanced itself from the position held by pro-Ukrainian European countries – the main backers of the text – before voting in favor of Russian amendments for the first time last autumn.

This spring, the US reaffirmed its alignment with Moscow, becoming one of four countries, along with China and Niger, out of 56 voting countries to do so. This new Russia-China-US bloc has emerged at the International Labor Organization, seeking to water down a European-led resolution condemning Ukraine's invasion. US workers and employers have reportedly opposed the alliance.

When asked for an explanation, the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva referred inquiries to the State Department’s communications services in Washington, which did not respond to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. Speaking privately, US representatives defended this new position “in the name of peace” and to “avoid politicising the issue.” This poor excuse for an explanation sounds like something that Putin’s “Squealer” Dmitry Pesko would contrive.

Geneva Solutions pointed out that, in practice, however, Washington is playing into Moscow’s hands, a comment about the White House that has been echoed on Capitol Hill. It also reflects a new configuration in which Russia, China, and the US have formed a tactical alignment against Ukrainian and European interests. After withdrawing from the Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization, the US latest change in position stands to further weaken the former Western alliance. Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the US vote. The ILO said the minutes of the latest Governing Body session will be posted online “within roughly two weeks.”

The ILO resolution on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was first adopted a month after the war broke out, with the support of the Biden administration and a large majority of governments (28 full members), as well as employer (14) and worker (14) representatives. The text urges Russia to immediately cease its aggression, withdraw from occupied territories and provide assistance to Ukraine.

Blaise Matthey, spokesperson for the ILO employer group and vice-president for Europe and Central Asia, confirmed that the group rejected the Russian amendments, as did the worker group. Russia’s proposals were ultimately struck down, and the resolution was extended without a vote.

“The only country to have changed its position is the US,” noted Swiss trade unionist and ILO expert Luca Cirigliano. “Despite the current Russia-China-Iran-Belarus axis, other countries in Africa, South America and Asia are not shifting in Russia’s favour. This shows that, ultimately, within UN agencies, neither China, nor Trump’s US, nor Russia dictate outcomes.”

Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for the White House to deny its blatant support for Putin’s Russia, thus tarnishing America’s historic position as a defender of the former captive nations a few months ahead of the mid-term elections. Sadly, Republicans may be compelled to pay for this in the polls later this year and in 2028. Ukrainian American voters will remember. 

Russia Launches 400 Drones against Ukraine in Daytime Attack
The evil empire launched more than 400 drones at Ukraine in a rare though increasingly frequent daytime attack, injuring 12 people in Ternopil, Ukrainian officials said on Friday, May 1.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia attacked the country with 409 drones between 8 am and 3.30 pm local time (3:00 am and 10:30 am New York time). Air force units downed or neutralized 388 of them in the north, south, center  and west of the country, it said. 
The air force had earlier said Russia sent 210 drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack.
Here is how reports of the bombardment appeared on the Ternopil Telegram site:
Ternopil Without Power
As a result of a massive attack by enemy drones, parts of Ternopil have been left without electricity.
The following neighborhoods are currently without power:
— Kanada
— City Center
— Novyi Svit
— Staryi Park
— part of the Soniachnyi district
Explosions were heard in the city during the air‑raid alert, and air defense was operating. Due to the danger, public transportation was also temporarily suspended.
Residents are urged to remain in shelters and follow safety guidelines.
Information regarding the consequences of the attack and the restoration of electricity is being clarified.
More than 50 drones attacked Ternopil: at least 10 injured.
There are reports of strikes on industrial and infrastructure facilities. All relevant services are working at the sites.
As of now, reports indicate at least 10 injured. Among the victims are people in serious condition. All are receiving the necessary medical care. There is currently no information about fatalities.
Due to infrastructure damage, several neighborhoods in the city remain without electricity. Emergency crews are already working to restore power.
Dangerous debris from downed drones may also remain in the city. Rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine urge residents not to approach or touch suspicious objects.
It is especially important to warn children: any found debris may pose a deadly danger. If suspicious items are discovered, residents should immediately call 101. 
A police coordination center has been set up in Ternopil to assist those affected.
The main tasks of the center are coordinating emergency services, assisting with evacuation, documenting damaged property, and informing the public. Residents can also file reports about lost or damaged property, receive legal consultations, psychological support, and request medical or humanitarian assistance.
Explosive ordnance technicians, investigative teams, patrol officers, rescuers, medical personnel, and other services are working at the strike sites.
As of 17:00, there are reports of 12 injured. All are receiving the necessary medical care.
According to Reuters, since the beginning of the war m As of now, reports indicate at least 10 injured. Among the victims are people in serious condition. All are receiving the necessary medical care. There is currently no information about fatalities.
Due to infrastructure damage, several neighborhoods in the city remain without electricity. Emergency crews are already working to restore power.
Dangerous debris from downed drones may also remain in the city. Rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine urge residents not to approach or touch suspicious objects.
It is especially important to warn children: any found debris may pose a deadly danger. If suspicious items are discovered, residents should immediately call 101. (Ukraine’s version of 911.)
A police coordination center has been set up in Ternopil to assist those affected.
The main tasks of the center are coordinating emergency services, assisting with evacuation, documenting damaged property, and informing the public. Residents can also file reports about lost or damaged property, receive legal consultations, psychological support, and request medical or humanitarian assistance.
Explosive ordnance technicians, investigative teams, patrol officers, rescuers, medical personnel, and other services are working at the strike sites.
As of 5 pm local time there were reports of 12 injured. All are receiving the necessary medical care. ore than four years ago, Russia has mainly carried out major drone and missile strikes at night. In recent weeks, it has repeatedly sent hundreds of drones and missiles during the daytime, setting a record for the number of weapons used in one such strike on March 24. 
In Ternopil, which lies some 150-200 km from the Polish border, a dozen people were hurt in the attack, which hit industrial and infrastructure facilities, the city’s mayor, Serhiy Nadal, said. 
The attack also caused blackouts in some areas, Nadal said on Telegram, adding that more than 50 drones had been involved. 
In central Ukraine, 19 drones were downed over the Cherkasy region, the regional governor said, reporting damage to a nursery, a school, seven private houses and a power line. 
A woman was hurt in the central Vinnytsia region, the local governor said, adding that a building was destroyed in the attack. 
Near the southern city of Odesa, which had come under regular overnight attacks, another daytime attack damaged the roof of a shopping center and caused a fire, the regional governor said. 
The attack on Ternopil follows an attack by Ukrainians on a major oil refinery in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse for the fourth time in two weeks as authorities struggled with a mounting environmental disaster from toxic black smoke clouds and oil leaking into the sea. 

World Takes a Stand against Chornobyl Disaster: Never Again!

The world remembers that today, 40 years have passed since the historic night when the reactor at Chornobyl tore open and released more than poisonous radiation. It ultimately became the nuclear wound inflicted by Russia that ironically dealt a mortal blow to the evil empire. The anniversary of the catastrophe is not only a remembrance of loss. It is a testament to the Ukrainian nation’s resilience.

The European Union and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America issued separate statements condemning this catastrophe that was orchestrated by Moscow.

Following are their appropriate statements:

Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis delivered the statement by European Union at the United Nations:

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting.

I have the honor to make this statement on behalf of the EU and its member states.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

Exactly forty years ago, an accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant led to one of the most horrific nuclear disasters in history. It had widespread consequences across Europe and notably in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, causing fatalities, long-term health effects, food shortages, and environmental pollution that will last for many years to come. Around 350,000 people were forced to leave their homes in severely contaminated areas, facing social, economic and health-related consequences that continue to this day. We pay tribute to the memory of the victims, and to those who to this day continue to suffer from the consequences of the disaster.

The Chornobyl catastrophe serves as an important reminder to us all of our responsibility to do anything in our capacity to prevent nuclear accidents and to maintain and continuously improve the highest level of nuclear safety and security. In the decades since that fateful day in 1986, the EU has stood alongside the affected communities in the long work of remediation, medical support and environmental monitoring. We contributed over 400 million EUR to the New Safe Confinement, a vast steel arch which seals the reactor from the air and rain. It is not a monument to victory, but an acknowledgement that some things we set in motion cannot be undone, only contained.

This brings us to the present day. Alas, today, it is evident that one state – the Russian Federation – actively undermines nuclear safety and security in Europe and beyond with its targeted and large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These attacks, including on power lines and substations critical for the off-site power supply of nuclear power plants, increase the risk of a nuclear accident at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

Russia has also directly targeted and even temporarily occupied Ukrainian nuclear sites, damaging the facilities. It occupied the site of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 2022 and recklessly struck the New Safe Confinement with a drone last year, tearing a 6-meter-wide hole in the sarcophagus, setting it ablaze and undermining the primary safety function of the structure. In response, the European Union mobilized an additional EURO 1 million to support Ukraine’s emergency works on the site. The EBRD assesses that repairs could cost at least 500 million EURO, with work needed to restore the structure to full functionality by 2030.

In addition, Russia continues to undermine the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, notably with its unlawful occupation and illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the ongoing interruption of normal operations, such as impeding the rotation of personnel through occupied Ukrainian territory. We call on Russia to immediately return control of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to its rightful owner –the competent Ukrainian authorities-, and refrain from any further actions targeting nuclear installations or Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

I want to reiterate the EU’s support for the IAEA’s efforts to assist Ukraine in ensuring nuclear safety, security and safeguards under these unprecedented circumstances. We commend the dedication and professionalism of the Agency’s staff deployed in Ukraine and thank the Director General for the regular updates to the IAEA’s Board of Governors.

President,

Marking 40 years since the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, we remember all those affected and we reiterate our utmost concern over the nuclear safety and security risks caused by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Let today’s commemoration be a moment to reflect on the importance of nuclear safety and security, and of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

There must never be a second Chornobyl. Not in Ukraine, not anywhere.

 

Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

Forty years ago, in the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, unleashing the worst nuclear disaster in human history. The blast released more than 400 times the radioactive material of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, contaminating vast regions of Ukraine, Belarus, and Europe and leaving a legacy of devastation that endures to this day.

This catastrophe was not only a technological failure— it was a profound failure of governance, transparency, and respect for human life. The Soviet regime, led from moscow, concealed the true magnitude of the disaster, delaying warnings even as radiation spread. Thousands of innocent people, including children, were exposed to deadly contamination, and residents of nearby communities continued their daily lives unaware of the danger. Even as the crisis unfolded, authorities allowed public gatherings, placing countless lives at further risk.

The consequences of Chornobyl have been immense and enduring. Thousands perished, hundreds of thousands were displaced, and millions have suffered long-term health, environmental, and economic effects. The land itself still bears the scars of contamination— a stark reminder of the costs of negligence and secrecy.

Each year, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) joins communities around the world in commemorating this tragedy. On this 40th anniversary, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives, the bravery of the first responders and liquidators, and the resilience of all who continue to live with its consequences. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the victims of Chornobyl are never forgotten and that their ongoing needs remain a priority for the international community.

Today, the lessons of Chornobyl remain painfully relevant. russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, including its reckless actions around nuclear facilities, once again threatens global nuclear safety. The occupation and endangerment of these sites undermine basic safeguards and raise the risk of another catastrophe—not only for Ukraine, but for the world. Only a free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine, unburdened by russia’s temporary occupation and aggression, can serve as the true guarantor of nuclear safety within its borders.

On this solemn anniversary, UCCA calls on the international community to hold russia accountable, to strengthen protections for nuclear facilities in times of war, and to ensure that the crimes and consequences of Chornobyl are never forgotten.

Chornobyl was not just a tragedy—it was a crime enabled by tyranny. Its legacy demands truth, accountability, and justice—and UCCA will continue to stand firmly in pursuit of all three.

Good Time to Force Russia to Accept Ukraine’s Peace Terms

After 50 months of observing with trepidation a “neighborhood” war launched by Russia against Ukraine, European nations are finally feeling realistically anxious though not because they could become collateral damage for Moscow. Consequently, they have asked Ukraine to pause its highly successful drone attacks against Russian oil refineries.

The logical question is why?

Apparently, the purse strings that stretch from Ukraine to Russia then to Iran, Israel and the Persian Gulf and finally across Europe are causing real pain as consumers in those countries and are forced to pay a lot more for gasoline and other petroleum-based products than they did earlier this year.

According to Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s foreign allies have asked Kyiv to pause its attacks as the US-Israeli war in Iran drives up fuel prices worldwide, he said in an interview published April 4 by Bloomberg.

Oil prices have skyrocketed amid the escalating war in Iran, which is in its sixth week. Energy facilities in the Middle East have been targeted throughout the conflict, while Iran has also shut down the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply transits.

Budanov told Bloomberg that Ukraine has received requests from its allies to stop its regular campaign of strikes on enemy oil refineries in Russia due to the price surge.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine’s allies, who have been very supportive of Ukraine in its time of great need, have urged him to scale back attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure amid the ongoing global fuel crisis – but that they would only end if Russia stopped targeting Ukraine’s first.

Aggressor Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since start of the war in February 2022. In the ensuing months, Ukraine’s military-industrial complex has developed enviable skills in building its own brand of deadly drones. Its efforts have hit Russian bulls’ eyes enough to cause significant pain to anyone buying Russian and Persian petroleum products.

Zelenskyy told journalists in a WhatsApp voice message that, by launching attacks on Russia’s energy system, Ukraine was only responding in kind.

Zelenskyy’s comments come amid a string of long-range Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s energy sector, including the key oil export terminal at the port of Ust-Luga outside St. Petersburg.

“We have received messages from some of our partners asking about how our responses against Russia’s oil sector – the energy sector – can be reduced,” Zelenskyy said in the voice message. “If Russia is ready not to strike Ukraine's energy, then we’ll respond by not attacking theirs.”

So why Ukraine should listen to cries of “stop” and show mercy to its enemy’s energy lifeline? It seems to me that this could be the useful mechanism that could solve two problems. Yes, given the right circumstances, Kyiv could consider retargeting its drones to hit other Russian targets rather than its oil refineries. But that should be only half of Ukraine’s demand.

In return for such a favorable accommodation, Kyiv should insist that all countries that are suffering the pain of high gasoline prices and other petroleum-based products must put their collective heels on Russia’s throat and demand that it immediately and forever not only stop attacking Ukrainian cities and killing innocent civilians but also pack up and leave Ukraine with appropriate NATO security guarantees.

If not, what has Ukraine got to lose? In the past week Russia has continued to strike its favorite targets of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia, Chornobyl, and other towns along with commuter trains, leaving death and destruction in its wake.

No matter how you slice and dice the wasteful Witkof-Kushner negotiations, a cessation of hostilities on Ukraine’s terms would be a win for Ukraine and Europe.

 How Much More Blood must Ukrainians Shed before Trump Realizes that Putin only Wants to Kill Ukrainians

Every new day in Moscow’s war against Ukraine brings new waves of Russian drones and missiles hitting Ukrainian cities, apartment buildings, energy infrastructure, supermarkets, schools, churches, buses and trains, killing innocent men, women and children.

President Donald J. Trump, just like he has done with Iran and other hot spots, claims to believe the Russian war versus Ukraine coming to an end. The picture on the ground and in the air is markedly different.  As he pushes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept all of Russian fuhrer Putin’s unacceptable, damaging demands, Putin is launching daytime and nighttime attacks on Ukrainian cities. It’s noteworthy to point out that Trump’s pressure on Zelenskyy does not compare with the silence Putin is feeling from the American president.

According to Ukrainian news sources, Russian forces attacked Kyiv and other cities with ballistic missiles and drones early Thursday morning, April 16, resulting in deaths and dozens of injuries.

More than 700 drones and missiles were launched in multiple waves at cities across the country, killing at least 18 people in what local officials described as the deadliest attack in months.

The State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported on Telegram:

“Kyiv: 4 dead, including a child, 21 injured as a result of Russian shelling. Destruction recorded in Podil, Obolon, Shevchenkivskyi and Desnyanskyi districts.”

The number of casualties has been rising throughout the day, reaching seven dead and 64 injured.

At 2:36 AM Kyiv Post correspondents in various areas of the capital heard loud explosions as Russia launched the first wave of ballistic missiles.

Eleven-year-old Maksym Veremchuk never woke up from his nightly sleep. He was in his bed when he was killed during a Russian strike on Kyiv on April 16.

Maksym's father, Ihor, said the family did not hear the air-raid warning.

"The missile hit, and it killed my son in that room. My other son, who was sleeping by the window, is alive. But he was sleeping a little further away. We hadn't even heard the air-raid warning when it all happened. We didn't have time to react and run out," Ihor said.

Nearby hotels and residential buildings also sustained heavy damage. Elsewhere, a one-story house was destroyed, and two people, including a child, were rescued.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said four people had died in the capital, while seven people were killed in Odesa and two in the southeastern city of Dnipro, where Russian attacks set residential buildings ablaze.

Zelenskyy said in the wake of the overnight strikes that Putin is a “truly global threat.”

Appearing in the Netherlands to receive the International Four Freedoms Award, Zelenskyy said: “Today, this is definitely not unprecedented. Putin knows exactly what he's doing. Exactly. And who he resembles.

"And he's rightly compared to Nazis, he has the same expansionist ambitions, he wants to decide the fate of nations.”

He went on: “Russia has carried its war ideas as far as Syria and Africa. This is a truly global threat."

The latest strikes left cities and towns in Ukraine’s southeast without power, including Mykolayiv and Kherson.

Russian troops have been carrying out missile and drone strikes on a number of regions of Ukraine for the second day in a row. In addition to Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Kharkiv were under fire.

In Dnipropetrovsk four people were killed and 34 injured in Russian strikes.

Oleksandra Hanzha, head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram said: “Fires broke out at several locations in Dnipro as a result of a large-scale missile and drone attack yesterday evening and overnight… Sadly, two people have been killed and 30 injured."

Earlier, buildings of two universities were damaged in a Russian attack on Dnipro on the night April 14-15 – academic and accommodation buildings of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology and Dnipro Polytechnic.

Trump had to be probed by a RFE/RL reporter Alex Raufoglu, before he said the attack was “terrible.”

Asked whether the war had the potential to drag on for years, Trump said he believed a deal could still be reached.

“Well, possibly, but I think a deal could be reached – possibly,” he said. “It would be foolish not to. I mean, if we’re close to a deal to end it, yes, I would do that. But we’re close to a deal.”

Do Trump’s haphazard words mean they’re close to a deal? Have Ukraine’s demands been satisfied? Zelenskyy cannot sign the accord if all of his demands haven’t been met. No two ways about that.

UCCA Condemns Vice-President Vance Remarks, Demands Reversal of US Retreat from Ukraine

The following statement was issued by the UCCA on April 16, 2026.

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), representing over 2 million Americans of Ukrainian descent, strongly condemns Vice-President JD Vance’s recent remarks at a Turning Point USA event, where he declared that halting US funding for Ukraine is among the “proudest” actions he has taken since entering government.  

At a time when Ukraine continues to defend its people, its sovereignty, and the fundamental principles of democracy against russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion, such a statement is not merely misguided—it is a moral failure. To take pride in withdrawing critical support from a nation under relentless attack is to turn one’s back on victims of war, embolden an aggressor, and erode the moral authority of the United States on the global stage.

This rhetoric reflects an alarming and unacceptable alignment with narratives that benefit russia’s genocidal regime. It signals to the world that this administration is willing to abandon those fighting for freedom and democracy while effectively rewarding violence, repression, and territorial conquest. Such a posture is not neutrality— it is a green light for continued atrocities.

The UCCA calls on Vice President Vance to immediately retract and apologize for these indefensible remarks and demands that the Trump Administration reverse this dangerous and short-sighted policy without delay. A December 2025 survey by the Reagan Institute makes clear that a decisive majority of Americans support continued assistance to Ukraine and recognize russia as an existential threat to the United States. Disregarding this reality is not only politically irresponsible—it is a direct affront to the will of the American people and a failure of leadership at a moment of global consequence. The United States must restore and expand its support for Ukraine, reaffirm its unwavering commitment to defending democracy, and categorically reject any position that enables or legitimizes russia’s ongoing genocidal war.

There can be no ambiguity in the face of such aggression. Standing with Ukraine is not only a moral obligation – it is the US’ national security interests. The consequences of failure will be measured in innocent lives lost, authoritarian regimes emboldened, and the unraveling of the democratic world order.

The UCCA will continue to advocate relentlessly for policies that uphold justice, accountability, and unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight for survival and freedom.