United News of Bangladesh

Russia carried out dozens of overnight drone attacks on Ukraine, ignoring a unilateral ceasefire declared by Kyiv that came into effect at midnight, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday. According to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Russian forces launched 108 drones and three missiles, with strikes continuing through the night into Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of violating its own ceasefire, claiming its air defenses intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, the annexed Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday. Russia-installed governor of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov said a Ukrainian drone strike killed five people in the city of Dzhankoi shortly after midnight. There had been no indication from Moscow that it would observe Kyiv’s ceasefire, with prospects for a pause in fighting remaining slim as the war enters its fifth year following Russia’s full-scale invasion. On Tuesday, Russian drone and missile strikes killed 27 civilians and injured 120 others in Ukraine, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The United Nations estimates that more than 15,000 civilians have been killed since the war began. Fighting has continued along the roughly 1,250-kilometer front line, where Russia’s larger forces are engaged in a prolonged and costly battle against Ukraine’s defense systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the unilateral ceasefire after Russia signaled it would observe a separate pause later this week to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Zelenskyy warned that any violation of the ceasefire would prompt a military response. European leaders had welcomed Ukraine’s move as a sign of willingness to pursue peace. However, Sybiha said Russia’s continued attacks showed a lack of sincerity in its own ceasefire proposals linked to upcoming commemorations. “Moscow once again ignored a realistic and fair call to end hostilities, supported by other states and international organizations,” he said. He urged the international community to increase pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions, diplomatic isolation, accountability for alleged war crimes, and enhanced military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

Residents of Slavutych gathered in the early hours of Sunday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, lighting candles in a quiet midnight vigil despite the ongoing war with Russia. People slowly filled the city’s central square, placing candles around a large radiation hazard symbol on the ground to remember those who died in the 1986 disaster and the thousands who risked their lives to contain its aftermath. The annual vigil continues even as authorities warn against large gatherings during wartime and curfews remain in place. The April 26, 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exposed major safety failures and secrecy in the then Soviet Union. Authorities delayed announcing the disaster for two days, only after radioactive fallout had spread across Europe and raised alarms abroad. Around 600,000 people, known as “liquidators,” were involved in firefighting and cleanup efforts. Dozens died within months from the explosion and radiation sickness, while millions were exposed to harmful radiation. The disaster also forced the long-term evacuation of hundreds of towns and villages across Ukraine and Belarus. Slavutych, located about 50 kilometers from the plant, was built after the disaster to house Chernobyl workers and their families. The city has since faced new hardships, including a brief Russian occupation early in the war and severe winters, with recent power outages forcing some residents to cook outdoors. At the vigil, people of all ages arrived, many bringing flowers like tulips and daffodils. They gathered near a memorial surrounded by Soviet-era apartment blocks and posters honoring locals killed in the ongoing war. Liudmyla Liubyva, 71, attended the ceremony with a friend. She said she used to come with her husband, a former Chernobyl worker who later became disabled due to radiation exposure. She said remembering those who sacrificed their health remains important, but added that the war has brought back fears of nuclear danger. "When the drone struck the arch, it felt like the world could return to 1986," she said, referring to a Russian drone strike in 2025 that damaged the New Safe Confinement structure built over the destroyed reactor. "We all — young and old alike — must protect our land, because it is so vulnerable." The ceremony included soft music and poetry about the disaster played over loudspeakers. Some participants wore white protective suits and face masks, symbolising the liquidators, and stood silently holding candles. Larysa Panova, 67, said she still remembers the day she was forced to leave her hometown of Chernobyl and start a new life in Slavutych. Though she has lived there for years, she said memories of her childhood home remain strong. Before the war, she often visited the area, but access has since been restricted. "I never stop thinking of Chernobyl as my homeland," she said. "You remember your school, your childhood, your youth — everything happened there, in Chernobyl."

Ukraine is seeking a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to revive slow-moving US-led peace talks, the country’s top diplomat said. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv believes a face-to-face summit could help bring fresh momentum to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s invasion, which has been ongoing for more than four years. At the same time, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike hit a residential building deep inside Russia, killing a woman and a child. Ukraine has asked Turkey to help arrange the high-level talks and has contacted other countries as possible hosts. Kyiv said it is open to holding the meeting in any country except Russia and Belarus. “We are advocating for a summit now to inject new energy into diplomacy,” Sybiha told reporters. Talks mediated by the United States over the past year between Russian and Ukrainian representatives have made little progress on key issues, including the fate of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims but does not fully control. With Washington now focused on tensions involving Iran, the peace process has largely stalled. Zelenskyy has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump, but Putin has rejected it. Analysts say Moscow believes time is on its side, expecting Western support for Ukraine to weaken over time. Fighting continues along a roughly 1,250-kilometer front line stretching across eastern and southern Ukraine, with heavy losses reported on both sides. Western officials estimate that Russia is suffering tens of thousands of casualties each month, though such figures cannot be independently confirmed. Ukraine has also expanded its domestic arms production, developing long-range drones and missiles capable of hitting targets deep inside Russia, including oil and military-related facilities. In the Russian city of Syzran, about 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, a drone strike caused part of a residential building to collapse. Authorities said the bodies of a woman and a child were recovered from the debris, while 12 others were injured. Images from the scene showed a section of the four-story building reduced to rubble as rescue workers searched through the wreckage. Reports said a Rosneft refinery, often targeted in Ukrainian strikes, is located on the same street. Russian officials say Ukraine’s drone attacks have surged sharply, rising from around 6,200 in 2024 to over 23,000 in 2025.

Marking a glorious chapter in human history, a bust of Yuri Gagarin was unveiled on Sunday to commemorate 65 years since the first human spaceflight. Speaking at the event, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin said Gagarin was not merely a cosmonaut but a symbol of humanity. He emphasised that science knows no borders and that space exploration represents a shared dream of humankind. Yuri Gagarin had become the first human to conquer space. President of the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh Mia Sattar described the sculpture as more than a memorial, calling it a symbol of the future. He said bilateral ties between the two countries are steadily strengthening, particularly in the areas of science, education, and cultural cooperation. He said such initiatives would inspire young people and encourage the next generation to engage in space research. Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, and Munira Sultana, Director General of the National Museum of Science and Technology, among others, were present. The speakers highlighted a shared message - friendship, cooperation, and progress. The programme, jointly organised by the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh, the Russian Association for International Cooperation, and the Russian House, carried special significance, they said. The event also pointed to a promising possibility that one day, a Bangladeshi astronaut may travel to space, which sparked renewed hope among attendees. The bust now stands as more than a work of art, said the organisers, adding that it conveys a message - to advance scientific inquiry, to break boundaries, and to dream. Perhaps one day, from this very museum courtyard, a young mind will begin its journey toward the stars, the organizers said. A distinct atmosphere prevailed at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Agargaon, Dhaka, as the venue buzzed with a festive spirit as students, researchers, and diplomats gathered in large numbers.

On a sunny weekend in central Moscow, dozens of people queued outside a presidential administration building, as police watched closely. They came to voice complaints over the government’s increasing restrictions on the internet, which have included frequent cellphone internet shutdowns, blocked messaging apps, and limited access to thousands of websites and digital services. The moves have stirred growing frustration among Russians, affecting daily life, harming businesses, and drawing criticism even from some Kremlin supporters. Knowing that unauthorized protests are harshly suppressed, activists have focused on authorized rallies, putting up posters, and filing lawsuits, while business leaders have urged authorities to ease the measures. Even Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took a subtle jab at Russia during a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin on April 1, noting that social media in Armenia “is 100% free” without restrictions, prompting an unsmiling reaction from Putin. The internet clampdown has disrupted digital life, making tasks like ordering taxis, paying bills, and staying in touch with family and friends difficult. Kremlin critic Boris Nadezhdin told AP, “This infuriates a huge number of people.” A push for full control Russia has long sought total control over the internet, blocking tens of thousands of websites, messaging apps, and social media platforms that refuse to cooperate. While users have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions, authorities have also blocked many of these tools. Last year, shutdowns escalated to include cellphone internet and sometimes broadband, leaving only government-approved sites and apps accessible. Officials claim the measures target Ukrainian drones using Russian networks during the ongoing invasion, but ordinary citizens and businesses in areas unaffected by drones see them as harmful. WhatsApp and Telegram, the country’s two most popular messaging apps, have faced repeated blocks, while a government-backed app, MAX, is being promoted—widely viewed as a surveillance tool. Voice and video calls were initially blocked, followed by messaging, which often now requires a VPN. Lawyer Sarkis Darbinyan of digital rights group RKS Global said the government aims to confine users to a “digital ghetto” of Russian-controlled apps, adding, “The internet is no longer this universal digital good.” Business voices concerns Business leaders have called for moderation, highlighting the impact on daily life and commerce. Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, told Putin that cellphone internet shutdowns “made life difficult for both businesses and citizens.” CEOs of major telecom operators also suggested targeted restrictions on suspicious users instead of broad shutdowns. IT entrepreneur Natalya Kasperskaya criticized the blocking of VPNs for causing weekend outages in banking and other services, calling for dialogue between authorities and the IT sector. Cautious activism Activists across Russia have attempted rallies since late February, seeking authorization under strict protest laws. Many applications were rejected, and some organizers were arrested, but small pickets and poster campaigns have taken place. Nadezhdin and other groups have applied to hold rallies on April 12, Cosmonautics Day, highlighting the link between science, technology, progress, and internet connectivity. “Public frustration is enormous,” he said, noting that people are willing to join authorized protests. Moscow-based opposition politician Yulia Galyamina echoed the sentiment, saying public discontent over internet restrictions, especially Telegram, “is truly widespread” and growing.  

Russian Ambassador Alexander Khozin and Military, Air and Naval Attaché Colonel Pavel Ivashinnikov on Tuesday held talks with Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division, on enhancing military and technical cooperation. The discussions covered current and potential areas of collaboration and explored ways to expand the legal framework governing bilateral military cooperation, said the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.

Russia carried out a large-scale drone and missile attack on civilian areas across Ukraine, killing at least four people and injuring 27 others, officials said Tuesday, amid indications that Moscow may be launching a new spring offensive. Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired nearly 400 long-range drones overnight in one of the biggest attacks in recent weeks. The assault continued into Tuesday morning, with dozens of drones targeting the capital, Kyiv, even during daylight hours. In addition, Russia launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles overnight, hitting at least 10 locations across the country. Ukraine has been facing constant attacks since Russia began its full-scale invasion more than four years ago. Efforts to reach a ceasefire through US-led talks have failed, while the ongoing Iran conflict has shifted global focus away from Ukraine. Along the roughly 1,250-kilometre front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces are preparing for increased attacks as weather conditions improve. Army chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian troops have recently tried to break through defenses in several key areas. “Intense fighting is ongoing along the entire front line,” Syrskyi said, adding that Russia launched 619 attacks over four days. He noted that Ukraine has sent reinforcements to counter the assaults. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said recent developments suggest Russia’s spring-summer offensive is already underway, with increased troop deployments and heavier equipment near the front lines. Despite stepping up attacks, Russia has so far made only limited territorial gains and currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Facing a shortage of troops, Ukraine has relied heavily on advanced drone technology. Kyiv is also seeking to exchange its battlefield drone expertise with Western and Gulf partners for much-needed air defence systems.Meanwhile, Russia said it intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over its regions, Crimea and the Black Sea.

At least four people were killed and 15 others injured after Russia launched a large overnight missile and drone attack on the Kyiv region early Saturday, local officials said. Mykola Kalashnyk, head of Kyiv’s regional administration, said the strikes hit four districts, damaging homes, schools, businesses and key infrastructure. Three of the injured were in critical condition and two of them were undergoing surgery, he said in a social media post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the main target of the attack was energy infrastructure in the Kyiv region. According to him, Russia launched about 430 drones and 68 missiles during the overnight assault. The attack came shortly after the United States postponed planned peace talks between Russia and Ukraine this week, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East. Despite strong criticism of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Russia has not taken direct action to support its ally. Analysts say Moscow’s limited response shows the limits of its influence, although the Kremlin could still gain from the situation. Rising global energy prices are boosting Russia’s revenues, while the Middle East conflict may also shift international attention away from Ukraine. Zelenskyy warned that Russia could use the global crisis to intensify attacks on Ukraine and urged Western partners to focus fully on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. “Russia will try to take advantage of the war in the Middle East to cause even more destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine,” he said on social media. He called for increased production of air defense missiles in Europe, especially those capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, to better protect civilians. Ukraine is also waiting for approval from the White House for a proposed joint drone production agreement with the United States, which Kyiv believes would help strengthen its defenses. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy also criticized Washington’s decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil exports for 30 days, saying the move could provide Moscow with about $10 billion and prolong the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck targets in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight. Local officials said an oil refinery and the Port Kavkaz facility were hit, injuring three people and damaging a service vessel and port infrastructure.  Authorities also said falling drone debris caused a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery, though no casualties were reported there. Both Russia and Ukraine have recently claimed progress along the front lines, with Kyiv saying its forces pushed back Russian troops in some areas, while Moscow insists its offensive continues to advance.  

Scientists have found possible evidence suggesting that some killer whales may hunt and eat their own species in waters near Russia. The discovery comes after two severed fins of killer whales were found on a remote Russian island. According to a recent study, both fins carried clear tooth marks from other killer whales, raising concerns that some orcas may be attacking members of their own species. Dr. Olga Filatova, an associate professor at the University of Southern Denmark, said she first saw photographs of the fins sent by her long-time collaborator Sergey Fomin. She said the discovery was unexpected. “When he found the first one, it was very surprising,” Filatova told BBC Science Focus, adding that scientists never expected to witness such behaviour in their lifetime. Genetic tests showed the fins belonged to resident killer whales, a population that mainly eats fish and lives in close family groups spanning several generations. Researchers believe the likely attackers were transient killer whales, another group that lives in the same waters but hunts marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and even other whales. Scientifically, the incident could be considered cannibalism because all killer whales belong to a single species, ‘Orcinus orca’. However, Filatova noted that resident and transient killer whales rarely mix, do not interbreed and may not even recognise each other as the same type of animal. Researchers believe the attacks may have occurred during large gatherings when many resident whale families meet for breeding. During these events, young whales can become separated from their family groups, making them easier targets for mammal-hunting orcas. Both fins belonged to young whales. Scientists also noted that predators often remove fins when hunting to reach the flesh underneath. While the findings are based on only two fins, researchers say the evidence could help explain why resident killer whales maintain such strong family bonds, possibly as protection against predators from other killer whale groups.

The United Kingdom has said it wants action to be taken following findings that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Sunday. Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Cooper said European laboratory tests indicated Navalny was killed using a rare toxin derived from dart frogs, adding that the evidence pointed to a breach of international chemical weapons rules. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a Siberian prison in 2024 while serving a sentence that Western governments and his supporters had described as politically motivated. Russian authorities have previously said he died of natural causes. Cooper said the UK and its allies had been pursuing the circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death since it occurred and were now seeking accountability through international mechanisms. She said a group of European ministers had reported the findings to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for further action. Asked about possible steps, Cooper said Britain would continue to consider coordinated measures with its allies, including sanctions against Russia, as part of its broader response to Moscow’s actions, including the war in Ukraine. Russia’s embassy in London has denied any involvement in Navalny’s death and rejected the poisoning allegations, describing them as unfounded. The issue has renewed calls within the UK for tougher measures against Russia, with opposition figures also urging stronger enforcement of existing sanctions.   With inputs from BBC