NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg arrives in Kyiv in surprise visit. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Kyiv on April 29 in a previously unannounced visit.
Parliamentary delegation of Polish lawmakers arrives in Ukraine. A group of lawmakers from the two chambers of the Polish parliament – Sejm and Senate – arrived in Ukraine on April 29, said Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine's parliament.
Duchess of Edinburgh comes to Ukraine in surprise visit. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, traveled to Ukraine on April 29 for a one-day visit on behalf of the Foreign Office to "demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war." She has become the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
Media: Deputy minister suspected of illegal acquisition of state-owned land returns to Ukraine. Law enforcement services did not hand Dmytrasevych a suspicion notice as he was abroad on a business trip. Dmytrasevych crossed the border on April 12.
Military intelligence: Over 18,000 Russian troops of Southern Military District have deserted. Over 18,000 soldiers of the district have allegedly deserted, with around 12,000 of them belonging to the 8th Combined Arms Army – a unit often deployed in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
The house of Serhiy Kivalov, known in Odesa as Kivalov's Castle, on fire following a Russian attack on Odesa on April 29, 2024. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram)
Media: Russian politician's wife planned to adopt kidnapped Ukrainian boy, abandoned him due to sickness. The wife of Russian politician Sergey Mironov forcibly took a Ukrainian girl and boy from occupied Kherson to adopt them, but abandoned the boy after it became clear he had ill health, Ukrainian news outlet TSN reported on April 28.
State Border Service: Over 30 draft evaders died trying to illegally cross border. More than 30 men have died while attempting to cross Ukraine's mountainous western border to evade mobilization, State Border Guard Service Head Andriy Demchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on April 29.
Ukraine appeals to CoE regarding derogation from parts of Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms due to martial law. Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said that this is part of Ukraine's regular updates on what restrictions it might impose and is part of Kyiv's international obligations.
Military: Ukraine regaining control over Nestryha Island in Kherson Oblast complicates Russian advances. Ukraine's control over Nestryha Island in Kherson Oblast is tactically important and will make it more difficult for Russian forces to approach Ukrainian positions, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, told Hromadske Radio on April 29.
