HM Intelligence

InformationThe 27 European Union countries gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine after months of delays caused by Hungary’s veto. Final approval is expected on Thursday. The funding is intended to help Ukraine cover urgent economic and military needs as it continues defending itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion. […]

Information Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Druzhba oil pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Europe, is ready to restart after repairs were completed on damage caused by a Russian strike. The shutdown had lasted two months, disrupting oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, two countries still heavily dependent on Russian imports.

Information Former President Rumen Radev and his Progressive Bulgaria party won Bulgaria’s eighth parliamentary election in five years with around 44.7% of the vote, the first party to secure an absolute majority on its own since 1997. Voter turnout rose from 39% in 2024 to around 50%, with support coming from younger voters, middle-aged voters,

Information Iranian gunboats linked to the Revolutionary Guard fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, around 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported that the firing came without any prior radio warning, according to the tanker’s captain. The vessel and its crew were reported safe. The incident

Information Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Tehran was “completely” reopening the Strait of Hormuz for the remaining period of the ceasefire, following a 10-day ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Thursday. Iran had effectively closed the waterway on February 28, after the United States and Israel launched their war

Information Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this week, describing the relationship between China and Russia as “precious” and calling for deeper cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Lavrov offered to increase Russia’s energy supplies to China to help offset disruptions caused by the Iran war, including shipping

Information President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that for the first time in the war, a Russian position was captured using only unmanned platforms, ground robotic systems and drones, with no Ukrainian infantry involved and no losses on their side. The occupiers surrendered during the operation. Ukraine has been increasing its use of ground robotic systems to

Information Hungary held a parliamentary election on Sunday, April 13, 2026, resulting in a landslide victory for centre-right opposition leader Peter Magyar and his Tisza party. Outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key ally of both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, conceded defeat after 16 years in power. The result was felt well beyond Hungary’s

Information A Russian military court sentenced Pavel Popov, a former deputy defence minister, to 19 years in prison for corruption on Friday. The 69 year old was arrested in the summer of 2024 on suspicion of fraud linked to Patriot Park, a war-themed tourist attraction near Moscow. Investigators said that from 2021, Popov had been