politics
Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Port of Tuapse; Peru Investigates Alleged Recruitment of Citizens for Russia's War in Ukraine
Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Black Sea oil hub of Tuapse again, exacerbating environmental damage, amid a massive Russian drone assault on Ukraine. Peru launched an investigation into a network allegedly trafficking citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Separately, President Trump advanced phone talks with Iran on ending the war while announcing tariffs on EU vehicles and a U.S.
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Ukrainian drones targeted Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse on Friday for the fourth time in 16 days, striking the seaport and refinery that serve as a key hub for Russian oil exports, according to Ukraine's SBU security service. Local Russian officials reported a major operation to extinguish a fire at the port, with no casualties noted.
The refinery has been hit and set ablaze at least twice since April 16, halting production.
Attacks on Tuapse have produced dense black clouds over the town and oil slicks along the coastline, damaging beaches in the popular resort area. Russian authorities cleared more than 13,300 cubic meters of fuel oil and contaminated soil along the coast.
Russia launched nearly 410 drones at Ukraine in a daytime attack on Friday, injuring 10 people in the western city of Ternopil, where industrial and infrastructure facilities were hit, according to Ternopil's mayor.
Ukraine's air force downed or neutralized 388 drones across the north, south, center and west of the country. In the Cherkasy region, 19 drones were downed, causing damage to a nursery, a school, seven private houses and a power line, as reported by the regional governor. A woman was injured in the central Vinnytsia region, where a building was destroyed, according to the local governor.
Ukraine announced plans for army reforms this summer to address infantry shortages and the discharge of longest-serving soldiers. All key details of the reforms will be finalized in May, with implementation starting in June and first results expected that month, Zelenskyy stated.
The reforms include higher pay for infantry. "A Ukrainian infantryman who holds the front line must feel that our state truly respects him," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. The changes amount to a systemic transformation of the army, according to Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's defense minister since January.
