Key events
Tusk declares plans for Poland’s ‘drone armada’ in partnership with Ukraine
Poland’s Donald Tusk is now speaking in the Polish city of Rzeszów at a conference focusing on helping Ukraine with its postwar recovery.
He declares that Warsaw plans to “build a drone armada” supported by the Ukrainian technical and practical experience, so that “as a consequence of this war, somewhat unexpected for the Russians, we will leapfrog an entire technological epoch so that in the near future, Ukraine, Poland, and Europe will be safe from air attacks.”
“We know how unstable the situation is not only in the region, but in the whole world. We also know how important the ability to react quickly is in the event of some provocation or aggression. … For me it is very important that these tragic and at the same time impressive experiences of Ukraine in the confrontation with Russia also become part of our knowhow on how to defend the Polish skies.”
Remember that the EU is separately looking at its own “drone wall,” with growing urgency after numerous disruptions caused by suspected Russian drones across the continent last year.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant complex killed a transport worker, the site’s Moscow-installed authorities said in a statement reported by AFP.
Zaporizhzhia is the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused the other of risking a nuclear catastrophe with attacks since it was captured by Russia’s forces in 2022.
“Today, a driver was killed in a strike by a Ukrainian armed forces drone on the transport shop floor of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” the plant’s press service said on Telegram.
The plant – which is in cold shutdown – is close to the frontline in southern Ukraine. Its fate is a major sticking point in stalled talks on ending the war.
Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom said Sunday that the plant’s “power transmission line was disconnected, causing the plant to switch to blackout mode” for an hour and a half.
“This is already the 15th blackout at the Zaporizhzhia NPP since its occupation. Each such incident significantly increases nuclear and radiation safety risks not only for Ukraine, but for Europe in general.”
Ukraine on Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Russia of sending drones at the site that he said amounted to “nuclear terrorism”.
Morning opening: Another night of Russian attacks on Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
Another night of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine overnight left more than 10 people injured, particularly damaging residential buildings in the Odesa region.
The strikes caused the biggest damage in the central Prymorskyi district, where residential buildings, a hotel and facilities in the center of the city were damaged, Serhiy Lysak, the head of the local military administration, said on Telegram in comments reported by Reuters.
“It was an extremely difficult night,” he said, adding that high-rise residential buildings, private homes and vehicles came under attack in two other districts.
The Ukrainian prime minister Julia Svyrydenko is expected to visit Poland today as she takes part in a conference on the “security and defence dimension” of Ukraine’s recovery, where she will meet with Poland’s Donald Tusk.
I will keep an eye on lines coming out of that meeting for you.
Elsewhere, France’s Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Andorra (of which, a little-known fact, he is a co-prince), Germany’s Friedrich Merz is expected to speak to pupils about Europe, the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen is in Berlin for a (politically awkward) chat with her former CDU/CSU party.
It’s Monday, 27 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/apr/27/europe-ukraine-russia-poland-germany-eu-latest-news-updates
About the Author
