Victory Chronicles-DAY 1156

Ukraine’s military has officially confirmed a precision long-range strike deep inside Russian territory, targeting a high-value military-industrial site that manufactures drones in the Republic of Tatarstan. 

Ukrainian Defense Forces said on April 23 that it utilized long-range assets and specialized loitering munitions in joint operations with other branches of the military – successfully engaging a drone manufacturing facility in the Yelabuga district. 

The site allegedly made Shahed-type drones using Iranian technology that Tehran had passed on to Moscow for its ongoing war against Ukraine. The site is located more than 1,000 kilometers from the Russo-Ukrainian state border and reportedly had a production capacity of up to 300 drones per day.

Intelligence reports indicate that the facility was a critical source of Russia’s strike capabilities against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Explosions were recorded at the site, with confirmed damage to the final assembly section of the plant. The full extent of the destruction is being assessed.

Military officials underscored that the strike constituted a lawful and proportional response against a strategic asset that directly supports Russia’s Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the terror campaign targeting Ukrainian civilians. 

Sixteen thousand civilians seek shelter in Kyiv’s cavernous subway system during savage Russian assault on Ukraine’s capital. In the dead of night of April 24, Kyiv was rocked by one of the most intense Russian combined missile and drone assaults in recent memory. The various projectiles rained down on the power center of Ukraine, driving over 16,000 residents, including 1,660 children, to seek shelter deep underground.

According to the Kyiv City Administration and Kyiv Metro, Lukianivska station in the southern part of the city sustained damage for the fifth time since the start of the full-scale invasion. 

The explosion shattered its glass dome and facade, dislodged interior panels, and damaged station’signage. Despite the impact, metro operations remained uninterrupted, demonstrating the system’s resilience amid ongoing war.  

Eight Kyiv residents confirmed dead, remains of another victim found, 77 injured. Municipal Kyiv officials have confirmed eight civilian fatalities as of early April 24, following a devastating Russian missile strike on the Sviatoshynskyi district, one of the capital city’s 10 administrative districts. First respondershave also recovered unidentified human remains that may belong to a ninth victim or the parts belonging to an existing killed body. Rescue operations are ongoing, with responders continuing to clear rubble from the scene.

Ukrainian SOF ‘Rangers’ unit wipe out North Korean platoon in close-quarters combat on Kursk axis. Operators from Ukraine’s Ranger 6th Special Operations Regiment executed a high-risk, deep raid operation last month that culminated in the complete annihilation of a North Korean infantry platoon during close-quarters engagement behind enemy lines. 

According to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) command, the eight-man Ranger element infiltrated Russian-held territory in the Kursk sector via an armored Humvee vehicle, conducting a precision strike mission supported by loitering munitions. Ultimately all 25 enemy troops of the platoon were terminated. After maneuvering into position under hostile artillery fire, the Ukrainian operators closed with an engaged the platoon-sized North Korean unit that was entrenched in forward entrenched positions. Despite being outnumbered by a ratio of 3-1, the SOF Rangers decisively neutralized the enemy unit.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. reportedly recently presented Ukraine with a seven-point proposal to end the war in Ukraine in which the United States would recognize Crimea as part of Russia and allow Russian forces to continue to occupy significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. Available reporting about the contents of the US proposal suggests that it marks a sudden and substantial change in the Trump administration’s strategy for ending the war in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian officials reiterated Ukraine’s continued commitment to the United States’ March 2025 proposal for a full ceasefire as part of efforts to achieve a lasting peace.
• Russian officials rejected aspects of Trump’s reported peace plan.
• Senior US, Ukrainian, and European officials held bilateral and multilateral talks about support for Ukraine and ending the war in London on April 23, but officials cancelled the scheduled multilateral talks at the foreign minister level.
• The US and Ukraine continue to take steps toward signing a joint mineral deal.
• Ukrainian forces likely conducted a drone strike against the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Republic of Tatarstan, where Russia assembles Iranian-provided Shahed drones.
• Russia continues to use chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces and civilians in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), of which Russia is a signatory.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Borova and Toretsk. Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove.

In Memoriam: Ukrainian soldier Serhii Veriokhin, a hero of Ukraine’s defense forces. Serhii Veriokhin, 39, a senior soldier with the 25th Separate Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was killed in action Aug. 17, 2023, during a Russian tank strike near the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Known by the call sign “Kharkiv,” he died while leading his assault group in combat.

Veriokhin was born in Kharkiv and trained as a chef at a local vocational school. He later completed massage therapy courses and worked various jobs, including as a cook, security guard and cash-in-transit officer. He dreamed of a peaceful life with his family.

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Veriokhin joined Ukraine’s Ground Forces and served as a rifleman and grenade launcher assistant. He trained both in Ukraine and the Czech Republic and was initially deployed to guard the Belarusian border. Later, his unit was reassigned to the Zaporizhzhia front. Shortly before his death, Veriokhin was appointed commander of an assault group. During a mission to liberate the village of Robotyne, he captured two Russian soldiers. “Serhii was the best father and husband, a loving son and a loyal friend,” his wife said. “He embodied the finest human qualities. We all miss him deeply.” Veriokhin was laid to rest at the Alley of Glory in Kharkiv’s Municipal Cemetery No. 18. He is survived by his wife and family.

*Serhii’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

• Trump refuses to say whether Ukraine should recognize Crimea as Russian
• President of Poland: Ukraine will have to make concessions in peace talks
• Zelenskyy indirectly responds to Trump, citing Pompeo’s ‘Crimea Declaration’
• CNN: US wants to announce peace deal before 100 days of Trump’s presidency, European official believes
• UK bans export of ‘killer’ video game controllers to Russia
• FT: EU will not support Trump’s Crimea deal, even though it could lead to NATO crisis
• Denmark to allocate over €40 million for ammunition for Ukraine
• Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Recognizing Russian annexation of Crimea would ‘open a hell’