Smoke rises above the Perm oil pumping station, east of Moscow, Russia, after Ukrainian drone strikes, April 29, 2026

Wednesday’s Coverage: Frustrated With Trump, US Ambassador to Kyiv Resigns

UPDATE 0728 GMT:

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for more than 90 minutes on Wednesday about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US-Israel War on Iran.

No details were given about Ukraine, amid suspended talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and the Trump camp.

Trump insisted that Ukrainians are near defeat and that Putin is “close to a deal”, as the Kremlin maintains its demands for seizure of more territory with the rest of Ukraine remaining weak and without effective security guarantees.

UPDATE 0645 GMT:

At least 18 civilians have been injured by overnight Russian drone attacks on Odesa city in southern Ukraine.

Two victims remain in intensive care in serious condition.

A high-rise apartment building and a five-story residential building were damaged in the Prymorskyi district. Homes, a kindergarten, a shopping center, a hotel, infrastructure facilities, warehouses, administrative buildings, and cars were also hit.

More than 280 emergency workers and 68 pieces of equipment were deployed to deal with the destruction and fires.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine’s drones have struck a key Russian oil facility for the second day in a row.

The Ukrainians set at least two fuel storage tanks afire overnight at the Perm oil pumping station, east of Moscow near the Ural Mountains.

Russian channels on Telegram confirmed the strikes at the facility, owned by Transneft.

A day earlier, Ukrainian special forces carried out a long-range drone attack. A massive fire engulfed almost all of the storage tanks.

Each tank at the station can hold up to 50,000 cubic meters of oil, around 314,000 barrels.

The Perm station is a major oil transit hub used for receiving, storing, and pumping crude through Russia’s main pipeline network.