Victory Chronicles-DAY 1162

A major fire ignited at a Russian defense facility in the city of Murom, Vladimir Oblast – about 200 miles east of Moscow –  following an overnight drone strike allegedly carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), sources told Ukrainska Pravda on April 30.

The Murom Instrument-Building Plant, which specializes in producing components for munitions, was targeted as well as systems for the Russian Navy and military aviation. The facility is listed under Ukrainian and EU sanctions for supporting Russia’s war effort.

According to the source, at least five explosions were recorded at the site, with two buildings reportedly damaged and one engulfed in flames.

Russian officials, including Vladimir Oblast Governor Aleksandr Avdeev, confirmed the incident. Avdeev said multiple drones had struck the facility, with one causing a blaze that covered about 720 square meters (7,749 square feet. Another building sustained minor damage.

EU invests 910 million euros ($974 million) in defense sector, opens doors to Ukrainian companies. The European Commission will invest 910 million euros through the European Defense Fund (EDF) to strengthen Europe’s defense industry, with Ukrainian defense firms now eligible to join EDF projects for the first time.

The funding will support the development of key military capabilities, including air and missile defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and troop mobility platforms. These technologies are aimed at helping European forces counter emerging threats and support partners such as Ukraine.

Zelenskyy urges more air defenses after massive overnight drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased pressure on Russia and more Western air defense systems after another devastating wave of Russian drone attacks overnight, which injured dozens and struck civilian infrastructure across multiple Ukrainian cities.

In a statement on April 30, Zelenskyy reported that over one hundred Russian attack drones targeted Ukraine during the night, bringing the weekly total to 375. Of those, more than 190 were Shahed-type drones.

Kharkiv was among the hardest-hit cities, suffering two waves of strikes that left more than 45 people injured, including two children. One of the victims is just five years old. The attacks damaged 13 civilian sites, including residential buildings, a hospital, and a school. Rescue operations are ongoing.

In Dnipro, one person was killed and another injured after Russian drones struck civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, in Dobropillia, a strike damaged a mine facility and several vehicles, leaving one civilian wounded.

GCS-200 armored vehicle supports explosive clearance operations in liberated Kherson region. Ukrainian sappers working to secure liberated areas of Kherson Oblast are receiving vital support from the GCS-200, an armored engineering vehicle designed to function in high-risk environments.

The tracked GCS-200 system plays a key role in disposing of explosive hazards in zones too dangerous for personnel. By remotely handling mines and unexploded ordnance, it greatly minimizes the danger to clearance teams.

Military engineers emphasize that the machine not only boosts operational effectiveness but also saves lives — making technology a crucial ally in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to restore safety across reclaimed territory.

Key Takeaways:

• Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev stated on April 29 that Russia’s war in Ukraine must end in Russian “victory” and the “destruction” of the current Ukrainian government. Senior Kremlin officials continue to signal that Russia has greater territorial ambitions than just the occupied areas of Ukraine, particularly in areas bordering the Black Sea.
• Senior Russian officials reiterated the longstanding, false Russian narrative that the Ukrainian government is illegitimate, likely in order to set conditions to manipulate ceasefire negotiations and renege on any future Russian-Ukrainian agreements at a time of Russia’s choosing.
• Russian officials are setting conditions to baselessly accuse Ukraine of violating Russia’s unilateral May 8 to 11 ceasefire, as the Kremlin has done during previous ceasefires, while rejecting Ukraine’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
• Kremlin officials within Putin’s inner circle continue to threaten NATO as Putin himself refrains from doing so — likely as part of Kremlin efforts to justify future Russian aggression against NATO to the Russian population.
• Putin promoted his previously proposed Eurasian security architecture on April 29 as part of Russian efforts to create an alternative Russian-led bloc that furthers Putin’s goals of destroying NATO and weakening the West and its allies.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Belgorod and Sumy oblasts and near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.

In Memoriam: Combat medic and volunteer Oleksandra “Maik” Mulkevych

Oleksandra Mulkevych, known by the call sign “Maik,” was killed in action on August 14, 2024, during a drone strike on the last day of her rotation in Kharkiv Oblast. She was 35 years old.

Born and raised in Kyiv, Mulkevych graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Taras Shevchenko National University. Passionate about technology and aesthetics from a young age, she turned her love for photography into a successful small business “Lighthouse” which became one of Ukraine’s first ventures to print custom images on clothing.

She was deeply committed to civic life. Mulkevych volunteered, donated blood, and supported elderly Ukrainians through the “Starenki” Foundation. She was known for wearing a hoodie with a Ukrainian Insurgent Army patch and speaking exclusively in Ukrainian.

In 2023, after nearly a year of preparation, she joined the Hospitallers medical battalion. She trained regularly before volunteering and gradually rose to become a crew commander. Her comrades describe her as a natural leader and an inspiration—always encouraging others, supporting newcomers, and caring deeply for her team, both emotionally and professionally.

“Maik was a fearless driver, combat medic, and crew leader, always ready to lend a hand or share a warm cup of tea at the stabilization point,” one fellow Hospitaller said. “She embodied strength, kindness, and selflessness.” She was laid to rest at Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv. She is survived by her husband, relatives, friends, and comrades.

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

• Bloomberg: Ukraine ready to sign US minerals agreement as early as 30 April
• Times: Europe will struggle to deploy even 25,000 troops to Ukraine
• The Economist: After years of resilience, Russia’s economy is slowing down
• Estonia ready to send company of soldiers to Ukraine as part of deterrence force
• Lithuania warns against falling for Russian propaganda after Putin’s “truce”
• US State Department: North Korea shares blame for Russia’s war in Ukraine
• EU reacts to investigation into Russia’s murder of journalist Roshchyna
• Seoul: Hundreds of North Korean troops killed while fighting Ukraine