Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones located about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk remains one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front where Russia has concentrated its main offensive efforts since March  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 11:41 am)Ukraine's drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims, ahead of Victory Day parade. Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce." Vice President Mike Pence said Putin "only understands power." About 800 million euros ($905 million) will be allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 9:36 am)War analysisFrance is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs — here's what they can do Polish President Andrzej Duda said the United States has tools that can effectively influence the Kremlin arguing that only President Donald Trump has real leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin The number includes 1,430 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans which covers dissent in the Soviet Union and Russia today Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 5 announced they had facilitated Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's escape from Russia to France after she fled house arrest on April 21 A Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on May 5 killed one and caused damage to local infrastructure "We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7 MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8 by Anna FratsyvirJulie S steps off a train upon arriving in Kyiv on May 5 Her arrival follows the resignation of Ambassador Bridget Brink, who had served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022. Diplomats in Kyiv said that Brink’s exit was primarily due to fundamental disagreements with the direction of U.S Davis currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Cyprus and previously held posts as ambassador and special representative for Belarus, deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Europe and the European Union and deputy permanent representative to NATO Davis will serve as Washington’s top diplomatic representative in Kyiv until a new ambassador is appointed In a statement, the embassy said Davis arrives "at a critical moment to advance President Trump’s policy focused on ending the war and securing lasting peace and prosperity for Ukraine." The U.S. has been Kyiv's leading military supporter throughout the full-scale war, though Trump has yet to approve any new aid packages. A possible exit from the peace efforts raises concerns that the U.S Brink’s departure followed that of another embassy official who resigned in February in protest over what he called the administration’s "parroting of Kremlin talking points." approach to Ukraine as predatory and accused embassy leadership of silence in the face of Russian aggression The statement also highlights the signing of a long-awaited agreement to establish a Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund Anna Fratsyvir is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent with a background in broadcast journalism and international affairs she worked as a TV journalist at Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne covering global politics and international developments Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Communications from Taras Shevchenko National University and is currently an MA candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Ukrainian military intelligence claims Su-30 destroyed over waters near Russian port city of Novorossiisk says KyivUkrainian military intelligence claims Su-30 destroyed over waters near Russian port city of Novorossiisk Ukraine has destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency in what it said was the world’s first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone The GUR’s statement on social media on Saturday said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk a major Russian port city on the Black Sea The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down “The pilots ejected and were picked up by civilian sailors,” the blogger the mayor of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency on Saturday after local authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack had damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings “This is more of a theatrical performance on his part because in two or three days it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war,” the Ukrainian president said on Friday in remarks embargoed until Saturday set to coincide with its second world war commemorations on 9 May was aimed at testing Kyiv’s “readiness” for long-term peace said on Saturday that nobody could guarantee Kyiv would survive to see 10 May if Ukraine attacked Moscow during the 9 May celebrations Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May” The Kremlin has rejected calls by Kyiv and Washington for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire A Russian overnight drone attack on Kyiv injured at least 11 people and set several residential buildings throughout the city on fire the military and officials of the Ukrainian capital said on Sunday Falling debris from destroyed drones sparked fires at buildings in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts the head of Kyiv’s military administration said on social media Timur Tkachenko added that several cars throughout the city also caught alight Ukraine’s emergency service said 76 firefighters were involved in putting out the fires Russian shelling killed two people in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Saturday while a drone strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson left one other person dead a Russian drone attack late on Saturday sparked several fires Ukraine’s emergency service said one person was injured Sophie Grace Clark is a Live News reporter based in London, with a focus on crime stories. She has also covered politics and entertainment extensively. Sophie joined Newsweek in 2024 from a freelance career and had previously worked at The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Star, OK Magazine, and MyLondon. She is a graduate of Middlebury College. You can get in touch with Sophie by emailing sg.clark@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Two Russian fighter jets have been downed over the Black Sea according to Ukrainian military intelligence Intelligence out of Kyiv, which initially reported striking down one jet on May 2 Ukrainian naval missiles shot from a drone boat performed the strikes the incident marks the first time a fighter jet has been struck down by a missile launched from a drone boat Newsweek has not independently verify the strikes The Russian Foreign Ministry has been contacted for comment Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been developing its sea drones to push Russia's navy back from the Black Sea along its main site in Crimea The strike on May 2 was hailed as a "world first" by the Ukrainian military as it demonstrated the capabilities of its navy's sea drones in cooperation with Ukraine's SBU military intelligence and Ukrainian defense forces eliminated a Russian Su-30 in the Black Sea using a Magura sea drone equipped with a missile warhead told defense news site the War Zone that a second jet was also hit but that there was no footage of the second strike Budanov said the GUR shot down two Su-30 Flanker multirole fighters The missiles used in the strike were AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles which were fired by two Magura-7 drone boats Initial reports from the scene said the crew aboard the first jet survived and were rescued by a civilian boat but the crew aboard the second jet was killed GUR soldiers destroyed an enemy combat aircraft with a strike from a Magura sea drone." The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said: "For the first time in history a warplane was destroyed by a sea drone .. Russia is preparing for Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he cannot guarantee the safety of global leaders attending the event sparking speculation over whether Ukraine is planning a counteroffensive on the day Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Canada is moving forward with a legal bid to gain full possession of a Russian Antonov An-124 cargo plane and potentially hand it over to Ukraine, the country’s foreign ministry has said The Antonov An-124 — the world's largest mass-produced cargo aircraft — has been stranded at Toronto Pearson International Airport for over three years due to airspace restrictions that Canada imposed due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine “The Attorney General of Canada commenced forfeiture proceedings by seeking the issuance of a Notice of Application by the Superior Court of Ontario on March 18 2025,” a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada told the Ontario-based news outlet Insauga The Antonov An-124 is one of 26 aircraft of its type in the world Roughly the height of a seven-story building and nearly the length of a football field and is valued at approximately $300 million The plane had been transporting a shipment of Covid-19 test kits from China to Canada when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb Ottawa closed its airspace to Russian airlines three days later while the plane was still unloading its cargo in Toronto Canadian authorities formally seized the aircraft in June 2023 then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the aircraft would soon be delivered to Kyiv so it could never be used by Russia again Ownership of the plane has since been tied up in an ongoing legal battle with Volga-Dnepr filing lawsuits in Canada in a bid to stop the confiscation The Russian Foreign Ministry has called the seizure of the plane "cynical and shameless theft." built the company into a global leader in oversized cargo transport using the Antonov An-124 in the 1990s Ownership of the airline has since passed to senior executives Igor Aksenov Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help please support us monthly starting from just $2 and every contribution makes a significant impact independent journalism in the face of repression and set alight several residential buildings across the city Ukraine war briefing: Maritime drone shoots down Russian fighter jet for first time, says Kyiv Russia (Contributor/Getty Images)Key developments on May 5: Four drones were intercepted overnight as they approached Moscow just days before Russia's annual Victory Day parade Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on May 5 Sobyanin said the drones were shot down near the town of Podolsk reportedly disrupted operations at Moscow's airports Videos shared on Russian social media appeared to capture the sound of air defense systems in the area Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the downing of four drones over the Moscow Oblast It also reported intercepting 17 drones over Bryansk Oblast and five more over Kaluga Oblast The Ukrainian government has not commented on the reported attack The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims The attack comes ahead of Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations, which mark the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on May 3 that Russia could stage provocations, such as "arsons, explosions, or other actions," around the event and attempt to blame Ukraine Victory Day, one of Russia's most symbolic holidays is expected to feature a military parade in Moscow's Red Square The Kremlin has invited foreign guests to attend Ukraine, along with most European nations, observes Victory in Europe Day on May 8 and has invited senior EU officials to Kyiv that day in a symbolic counter to Moscow's display Ukrainian Air Force struck the control center of Russia's drone units near the village of Tetkino in Russia's Kursk Oblast on May 4 Ukraine's General Staff reported on the following day.‌‌‌‌ The crews of unmanned reconnaissance and attack drones were based at this location. As a result of the strike, up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed, according to the statement.‌‌‌‌ The village of Tetkino in Kursk Oblast is less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border the settlement was home to up to 4,000 people.‌‌‌‌ Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian military and industrial facilities in the rear to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its all-out war In the meantime, Russia continues regularly targeting Ukrainian cities and villages with drones, missiles, glide bombs, and artillery, resulting in heavy civilian casualties Ukrainian air defense shot down 42 of the 116 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported Twenty-one decoy drones disappeared from radars without causing damage The special tribunal on the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine is expected to start in 2026 Deputy Head of Ukrainian President's Office Iryna Mudra told Ukrinform on May 5 The tribunal, set to operate within the Council of Europe, will focus on Russia's political and military leaders "The special tribunal may start operating as early as next year. This year, we are finalizing the legal framework and forming the special tribunal: recruiting judges and the secretariat, implementing rules, regulations, and procedures," Mudra said A draft charter for the special tribunal that fully regulates its work has already been created "A special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine has been created in basically two years given the very complex and sensitive issues on which we had to seek a compromise," she said President Volodymyr Zelensky has been a strong advocate for the tribunal, seeking to hold Putin accountable for launching the full-scale invasion nearly three years ago The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia In March 2024, the ICC also issued warrants for two Russian military commanders for strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the winter of 2022-2023 Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide — charges that apply to individuals at all levels of a military conflict — the crime of aggression is a charge that can be brought exclusively against the top leadership of an aggressor state The Czech Republic is ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters and L-39 training aircraft in cooperation with its partners from "the coalition of the willing," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on May 5 during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky "We are ready to deepen our contribution to the training of the Ukrainian military. We have agreed that together with our partners from the 'coalition of the willing' we will train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and L-39s," Fiala said Fiala said that Ukrainian pilots will be trained at bases in the Czech Republic The Czech prime minister added that Ukrainian pilots are already training on Czech models supplied to Ukraine He did not specify which aircraft models he was talking about Zelensky said that Ukraine is working with the Czech Republic to launch a Ukrainian-Czech school to train pilots on F-16 fighter jets we are working with partners so that such schools can open outside of Ukraine Ukraine and its allies created an aviation coalition to provide Ukraine with F-16 combat aircraft The first batch of F-16s was delivered to Ukraine by the Netherlands, which was announced in October 2024. Denmark sent the second batch of aircraft and Norway — agreed to provide F-16s to Kyiv Ukraine expects 3 million artillery shells from its allies President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 4 "If Ukraine is strong, the war will end," Zelensky told journalists in Prague alongside Czech President Petr Pavel Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in the Czech Republic on May 4 for an official visit A Czech ammunition initiative will deliver up to 1.8 million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of 2025 "Russia should know that we are expecting three million artillery shells from our allies. Not only North Korea is capable of helping in the war, we have allies who are helping Ukraine," Zelensky said Russia has turned to North Korea for support as it wages its war against Ukraine and faces isolation from the West. North Korea has confirmed that it has sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast Zelensky warned Moscow that there are other streams of military aid in addition to the Czech ammunition initiative to help Ukraine fend off Russia's war The Czech initiative was launched last year to combat Ukrainian shell shortages amid delays in U.S "Forcing Russia to go for a full, unconditional ceasefire, especially since it was a proposal from the United States and we supported it is also a priority task," Zelensky said The Kremlin has shown no signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations brokered by the U.S Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms Zelensky has repeatedly called for a 30-day ceasefire Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent We are here to make sure our readers get quick essential updates about the events in Ukraine Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government could not guarantee the safety of foreign delegations visiting Moscow to attend the Victory Day Parade next Friday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II “Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy told reporters according to a report by Ukrainian news agency Interfax on Saturday “They provide you with security; therefore Because we don’t know what Russia will do these days,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying He also warned that Russia could orchestrate provocations Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are among the leaders set to attend the celebrations to commemorate the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany on May 9 in Moscow Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and the country’s former president, called Zelenskyy’s statement a “verbal provocation” in a post on his Telegram channel, according to Reuters Zelenskyy “understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10,” Medvedev threatened on his channel Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a one-sided three-day ceasefire starting on May 8 Kyiv referred to Putin’s truce announcement as a manipulation attempt, while calling for a ceasefire that would be “immediate The conservative leader’s wafer-thin majority is exposed after failing to get parliamentary support This failure is unprecedented in Germany’s postwar history Friedrich Merz presides over a coalition of crumbling mainstream parties Germany’s junior coalition partner hands key ministries to familiar faces — and springs a few surprises by Ray Baseley, Dmytro BasmatCzech President Petr Pavel welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the first courtyard of the Prague castle during Zelensky's official visit on May 4 (Ray Baseley/The Kyiv Independent)The Czech ammunition initiative will deliver up to 1.8 million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of 2025 according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground The announcement represents an additional 300,000 shells committed to Kyiv over what was announced by Prague earlier this year Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova previously said that the country supplied 1.5 million rounds of various calibers in 2024 and had enough funds to continue at the same pace until this fall The initiative, backed by contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other countries, has significantly boosted Ukraine's artillery improving the shell ratio from 1-to-10 in Russia's favor to 1-to-2 The initiative was launched last year amid Ukrainian shell shortages, primarily caused by delays in U.S Ukraine received 400,000 high-caliber rounds through the initiative Pavel said that Prague intends to deliver additional shells next year but that decisions depends on the results of this year's parliamentary elections said in January that it aims to suspend the initiative if it wins the parliamentary elections in October 2025 President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in the Czech Republic on May 4 for an official visit is slated to meet with Czechia opposition members on May 5 in an attempt to bridge relations according to a Kyiv Independent journalist present at the official visit Today's visit to Prague marks Zelensky's first visit to the country since July 2023 In additional to additional shell production the two leaders are also set to speak on additional areas of cooperation to support Kyiv's fleet of F-16 fighter jets Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Valek also announced the Czechia and Ukraine will also sign a memorandum on mental health cooperation that will include human resources in experience-sharing as well as an undisclosed investment to support mental health assistance for Ukraine Prague has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, supplying military aid, leading EU efforts to secure weapons, and hosting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees Ukraine — Ivan Sarancha was 7 when Ukrainian literature and history classes disappeared from his school That was in 2014 after Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and began to foment separatist unrest in his eastern Donbas region of Ukraine "I began to develop critical thinking," says Sarancha "I watched the Russian news and compared it with Ukrainian and American news that I could see using a VPN [an online virtual private network] And I figured out what was true and what was false That's when Sarancha also began to think about running away from occupied territory to free Ukraine The story of this shy 18-year-old's escape from enemy territory to what he calls "the country and culture of his birth" has turned him into a media star and is inspiring a war-weary nation It's also giving Ukrainians a rare glimpse at life in a region that has long been cut off long-haired youth smiles and offers a soft "hullo" — the extent of his English — when he meets NPR in Kyiv He says he now feels uncomfortable speaking Russian — spoken in his hometown of Luhansk— preferring instead to speak Ukrainian "as a matter of principle." He's standing in front of the apartment building where he is staying with other Ukrainians who have fled towns along the front line He says he took big risks to leave a largely peaceful home with his parents Much of his short life has been under the shadow of Putin's war on Ukraine became gray zones when Kremlin-backed separatists declared independence from Ukraine in 2014 and held referendums to proclaim the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics Sarancha says he was too young to realize that provoking chaos and instability in Ukraine was Putin's revenge for the pro-European uprising in Kyiv's Maidan Square months earlier known as "the Revolution of Dignity." Sarancha says an atmosphere of fear pervades everything in his hometown of Luhansk the capital of the region of the same name "There is basically no political or public activity because any opinion for or against anything could get you in trouble," he says Sarancha says people are most afraid of being taken to a place known as "the basement" for interrogation He says his hometown changed dramatically after the full-scale invasion and for the first time we had traffic jams," Sarancha says I counted more than a hundred Russian flags along the main street There were even flags with Putin's face on them." He says most young people his age support Ukraine over Russia — but would never openly talk about it Though sometimes people will give Russians wrong directions as an act of personal defiance And he began to speak Ukrainian — though only with his internet friends It had become too dangerous to speak Ukrainian in public "They would have beaten me and taken me to the basement first by the police and then by the [Russian] Federal Security Service," he says they believe the falsehood that Ukraine staged the massacres in Bucha and made fake videos to sway global opinion even though it's well documented that Russian forces carried out the killings As he began to entertain the idea of escaping Sarancha for the first time noticed flyers on a wall that said "We help people leave for Ukraine from Luhansk and Donetsk." "They were like ordinary advertisements and I saw some of the numbers were torn off so I realized there are maybe a lot of people who want to leave and I never realized that before," he says there is a whole network of organizations helping people flee from Russian occupied territory called "Helping to Leave." She is Russian but says she can't give her last name because it's dangerous work The Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories are now separated from Ukraine by the front line you have to pass through Russia or a third country such as Belarus That means going through an extensive interrogation and search process on the Russian border known as "filtration." your belongings and often look for a reason to detain you It's a very dangerous process and not everyone is allowed to leave." Kate says it's becoming more and more difficult to get out of Russian-occupied Ukraine Sarancha began watching videos of how other people had made it through filtration to prepare mentally He realized his phone was full of pro-Ukrainian information So he bought a new one and filled it with pro-Russian pictures and messages He told his parents he would be 18 soon and wanted to go somewhere to celebrate — his first solo trip His parents would not allow him to travel to Moscow but finally agreed he could spend a few days in Rostov-on-Don Sarancha planned to travel on to Moscow and Belarus where there is a humanitarian corridor allowing entry into Ukraine Sarancha says his plans were further complicated by his short time window "If you're not 18 you can't cross the border into Belarus without a certificate from your parents," he says But to leave Luhansk without any problems he needed to be 17 — and below Russian military draft age But I pulled myself together and decided to go all the way." When he arrived in Rostov-on-Don he checked into a hotel for the day advised doing so because his mother had asked to see pictures of his room Sarancha took pictures of himself in the room and in different changes of clothing at popular spots around the city He sent them to his parents so they wouldn't suspect anything That evening he boarded a bus for the 600-mile The next day when Sarancha arrived in Moscow "My parents are the kind of people who like to drink often," Sarancha says "So they had already begun celebrating my birthday go ahead and celebrate and don't worry about me since you're having fun." He'd brought food along but couldn't eat a thing he was so anxious He says his biggest fear was that his own parents would find out the truth and alert the authorities he headed straight for the Ukrainian Embassy "And that's when I saw the flag of Ukraine for the first time," Sarancha says I had not seen that flag since the first grade." At first officials at the embassy thought Sarancha was Russian and told him to go away showing them the only Ukrainian document he had: his birth certificate After a meeting with the ambassador himself the embassy issued Sarancha a temporary Ukrainian passport The last stop on his risky trip was the Belarusian border with Ukraine 'Unlock your phone and hand it over,' " Sarancha recalls But he was somehow able to remain calm and they finally opened the barrier and let him through He walked the few hundred feet to the Ukrainian border and freedom Sarancha says he likes everything about Ukraine "Everyone is united for the sake of one goal," he says He says at first his parents didn't believe he was in Ukraine He says he wants his parents to recognize the truth about the war and has threatened to block them on his phone until they do Sarancha wants to become a sculptor and hopes to enter the Kyiv Art Academy next fall But for now he admits he doesn't mind the media attention Ukrainian TV reporter Karina Kyrychenko who has come to interview him says Sarancha's bravery is an inspiration for the entire country "His story is necessary for all Ukrainians right now because everyone is tired and his story has a lot motivation," she says Kyrychenko says Sarancha is proof that Russia's indoctrination of a generation of youth in the occupied territories may not be working after all There are Ukrainians there waiting to be liberated NPR's Polina Lytvynova and Hanna Palamarenko contributed to this story Become an NPR sponsor At least four people were injured after Russia launched missiles and drones at the eastern Ukrainian city Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A busy Kharkiv market was engulfed in flames after Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on the region At least four people were injured after the Barabashovo was struck overnight according to Kharkiv’s governor Oleg Synegubov The barrage included deadly Russian glide bombs and several drones It comes after Ukraine launched a massive drone attack against Moscow for the second night in a row as the Russian capital’s four airports were forced to close over safety concerns At least 19 Ukrainian drones were downed over Moscow after 105 were launched across Russia overnight Airports in a number of regional cities were also closed It comes after four drones were launched at the Russian capital a day earlier On the war's frontline, Ukrainian forces attacked a power substation in Russia's western Kursk region after launching an audacious second incursion into the region Last month, Russia's top general said that Ukrainian troops had been ejected from Kursk, ending the biggest incursion into Russian territory since the Second World War. The European Commission will propose a ban on new Russian gas deals by the end of the year, a draft document seen by Reuters shows. The Commission will also propose next month to ban imports from existing contracts by the end of 2027. A draft of the European Commission’s roadmap for phasing out the use of Russian energy, set to be published on Tuesday, said that the Commission will in June present a legal proposal to ban remaining Russian gas and LNG imports under existing contracts by end-2027. The draft could change before it is published. Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked frontline soldiers for their efforts in the war against Russia. “Today we honor the warriors who hold the line – for Ukraine’s positions and for the Ukrainian state. Wherever a Ukrainian infantryman advances, the Ukrainian flag is raised,” he said on X. “The courage, strength, and skill of our infantry are undeniable. Just as our gratitude to the Ukrainian infantry for defending our state is unwavering.” He continued: “Ukraine stands as long as the infantry stands. On this Infantry Day, I thank our warriors for their strength, resilience, and daily fight. We are proud of you.” Vladimir Putin has given a rare tour of his home near the Kremlin, featuring gilded wood panelling, a white baby grand piano, and a home gym. The corridor of the spacious apartment is lined with clothes racks filled with suits and shirts. “Everything is here,” the Russian president said, opening the gold-edged doors. “As you can see, it’s not far away,” he says while bringing the camera crew into a sitting room, suggesting the apartment is close to the Kremlin. Moscow says Ukraine launched around 105 drones at Russia overnight. At least 19 of these were downed over Moscow, with the rest targeting other Russian regions. Moscow’s four airports were forced to close, with others across Russia also shut, after the barrage. In Ukraine, Russian drone attacks on Sumy and Odesa killed four people, according to Ukrainian officials. A market in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine, was engulfed in flames following a Russian barrage of drones and missiles. Four people were injured, according to Kharkiv’s governor. Ukraine has detained a gang, including two border guard officers, suspected of charging men about $15,000 (£11,000) each to get them out of the country to dodge the military draft, law enforcement officials said on Tuesday. The group helped about 30 people leave Ukraine, which has imposed a ban on most men aged between 18 and 60 leaving the country following Russia's invasion, by listing them as disabled, police said. The scheme was started by a border guard officer and a businessman in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region, who then recruited a second border guard and other accomplices, the prosecutor general's office said. Ukraine has halted its offensive in Pokrovsk and “seized back the tactical initiative” in some areas, Kyiv’s military claimed. Russian forces have been attacking the town for months and the area has seen some of the most intense fighting of the 38-month-long war. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's top military commander, said: “We've been able to stabilise the situation in this zone of operations... and in some places have seized back the tactical initiative." The town is a logistics hub in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. It is surrounded on three sides by Russian forces, but is still held by Ukraine, despite months of intensive Russian attacks. If Russia were to seize or encircle Pokrovsk, it would advance its aim of seizing the remaining part of Donetsk region that is not controlled by Moscow. Late last year, some people living in Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region said they were considering leaving, anticipating that Moscow would take Pokrovsk. However, since the start of this year there have been only incremental changes in the front line around Pokrovsk. US President Donald Trump said Moscow and Kyiv want to settle the war in Ukraine and that Russian President Vladimir Putin was more inclined towards peace after the recent fall in the price of oil. “I think Russia with the price of oil right now, oil has gone down, we are in a good position to settle, they want to settle. Ukraine wants to settle,” Mr Trump said. The price of oil - which drives the Russian economy - has fallen around $15 a barrel since the start of the year. "We've come a long way, and, it could be something will happen, but hopefully it will," Mr Trump said. Three civilians were killed and seven injured after Ukraine’s attack on Kursk, Russia claimed. Ukraine's military confirmed its forces were engaged in fighting inside the Russian region over the past 24 hours. Kyiv’s troops took large swathes of Kursk, on the border with Ukraine, in August last year. But Russian troops managed to retake most of the territory as US support dwindled under US president Donald Trump. Russia has attacked the north-eastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine with drones overnight. The attack has caused a huge fire and widespread damage in the Barabashovo market. A market in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine, was engulfed in flames following a Russian barrage of drones and missiles Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's top military commander, said: “We've been able to stabilise the situation in this zone of operations... and in some places have seized back the tactical initiative.\" A woman walks next to destroyed buildings and rubble in Pokrovsk, Ukraine \"We've come a long way, and, it could be something will happen, but hopefully it will,\" Mr Trump said. Firefighters work at the site of the Barabashovo market hit by Russian drone strike in Kharkiv A firefighter works at the site of the Barabashovo market damaged heavily due to a Russian drone attack A firefighter tries to bring the blaze at the Ukrainian market under control A vendor sits at the site of the Barabashovo market hit by Russian drone strike Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics/politics"},{"score":0.707523,"label":"/travel/transports/air travel/airports"},{"score":0.70227,"label":"/law 2025 4:06 PM4 min readLocal residents inspect the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on a residential area in Kyiv (Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images) When a Russian drone strike set a high-rise across the street on fire just after midnight on May 4 34-year-old veteran Petro Kryvoruka shook his wife As the buzzing of drones continued, he braced for another explosion. "I told (my wife), ‘Something is coming, it must be nearby,'" Kryvoruka told the Kyiv Independent the morning after the attack "We decided to move to the corridor." more explosions rocked Kyiv’s Obolon district The blast wave shattered the windows in the couple’s seventh-floor apartment in a nine-story building had been sleeping just minutes earlier with glass That's it," she told the Kyiv Independent According to local authorities, the drone strike affected three locations in the district It remains unclear whether the destruction was caused by direct drone hits or falling debris The Sviatoshynskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of Kyiv were also hit in the attack The head of the Kyiv City Military Administration the head of the Obolon District State Administration later in the morning refuted those reports saying there were no casualties in the area The attack comes as Moscow floats talks of a ceasefire while stepping up its attacks against Ukraine. In the past week alone, Russia has launched more than 1,180 attack drones, 1,360 guided bombs, and 10 missiles at Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 4 The attack struck a quiet neighborhood of Obolon an outer district of the city located nearest to Kyiv’s suburbs that could be considered a military target There aren't even any industrial facilities," Fesyk told the Kyiv Independent at the site of the attack as emergency response efforts were underway The Russian drone attack damaged one of the buildings of the Dream Town Mall located between the Minska and Heroiv Dnipra metro stations it continued to operate the following morning A beauty salon and a supermarket next to the mall were also damaged Several burned-out cars surround the crater left by the drone strike Local residents inspect the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on a residential area in Kyiv (Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)"It's a piece of iron Thank God we are alive," his wife said "It's upsetting that these situations keep happening," Petro Kryvoruka continued He returned from the front lines after being wounded two years ago "These bastards — there's really no other word for them — just don’t want to calm down and it's the civilian population that suffers it's civilians who are paying the price," he said In early March, Kyiv agreed to a U.S.-backed strategy calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire "A ceasefire means we have to make some kind of compromises," Kryvoruka said "How can we (Ukraine) agree to compromises What are we even fighting for if we end up having to give something away Our people won’t understand why we're dying and living the rest of our lives disabled." Hello there! This is Kateryna Denisova, the author of this piece. Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue relentlessly, with no ceasefire in sight. This drone strike on Kyiv didn’t feel like any other to me — it hit dangerously close, just a few minutes walk from my home. My colleagues and I are working around the clock to keep you informed. Please consider supporting our reporting Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany 'I hope they will not be required,' Putin said of nuclear weapons on Russian state TV Russian President Vladimir Putin again raised the specter of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine Kyiv said it shot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets over the Black Sea using modified U.S.-made missiles fired from Ukrainian sea drones As Russia intensifies its airstrikes on Ukraine From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox "There has been no need to use [nuclear] weapons .. and I hope they will not be required," Putin said in the Russian state film "We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires." A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine the document was signed by Oleksiy Chernyshov Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala Zelensky is currently on a two-day visit to Prague While citing and using any materials on the Internet links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421  (Updated:  May 4, 2025 11:08 am) • 1 min readby Olena GoncharovaFirst responders work at the site of Russian drone attack in Kyiv overnight on May 4 (State Emergency Service / Telegram)A wave of explosions was heard in Kyiv overnight on May 4 as Russia launched a drone attack against the capital At least 11 people were injured in the attack, including two children aged 14 and 17, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said via his official Telegram channel Debris from the drones damaged several houses and vehicles in various parts of the city and at least seven cars and the top floors of a high-rise caught fire First responders have been dispatched to the sites of attack Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire for Russia's Victory Day commemorations between May 7 and 9 — a proposal that President Volodymyr Zelensky has called a "theatrical performance," designed to ease Russia’s international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for Moscow Olena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018 Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia According to investigation, the man killed eight Ukrainians and citizens of Uzbekistan, Lithuania, and Georgia.  The Prosecutor’s Office said that in Kharkiv of 2018, the man strucked his friend with an axe 30 times, killing him. After that, he went to Kyiv, where he committed a series of murders. “There are men and women aged from 35 to 81 among his victims. The criminal gained the victims’ trust, talked and drank with them, and killed them after they lost their vigilance. He strangled or stoned victims and took their stuff. The phone costing 1,600 hryvnias ($38), and 5,000 hryvnias ($120) in cash were his most expensive findings,” said the police. In January 2024, the police arrested the man after he killed a flower shop worker in Kyiv. In November 2024, the National Police investigators concluded a pre-trial investigation and sent the case to the local courtHolosiivskyi district in Kyiv, which, in spring of 2025, sentenced him to life imprisonment. Subscribe to news from Kharkiv, UkraineMost important stories from the frontline region Google Facebook Or Register from Google Register from Facebook Or Website materials are permitted only with an active link to “GWARA MEDIA,” not lower than the third paragraph The use of digital platform content is allowed with textual attribution Content for documentary films and integrated products is permitted The site was modernized with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy in 2023 ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Rescue teams in Kyiv cleared rubble and recovered bodies Thursday after a major Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital with missiles and drones killed at least nine people and injured more than 70 a fire broke out in a residential building that was damaged in the attack (AP Video shot by Vasilisa Stepanenko and Dmytro Zhyhinas) At least 42 people were hospitalized in Kyiv Rescue operations were still underway early morning Thursday to find bodies under the rubble Zelenskyy was speaking on a visit to South Africa which he said he will cut short to return home because of an attack which killed at least nine people and injured more than 70 the deadliest assault on the city since last July The strikes took place just as peace efforts are coming to a head Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa met at the presidential palace in Pretoria on Thursday for bilateral talks Russia attacked Kyiv with an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July and just as peace efforts are coming to a head Ukrainian search personnel clear the rubble after a Russian ballistic missile attack in Kyiv A Ukrainian serviceman carries a dog out of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Medics tend to an injured woman in an ambulance near a house destroyed by a Russian airstrike in a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv Ukrainian police officers stand near a damaged building after a Russian ballistic missile attack in Kyiv In this photo released by South African Government Communications and Information Services (GCIS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Pretoria for a state visit where he will meet South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa A woman sits in a school basement being used as a shelter after a Russian airstrike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Cats sit in a backpack in a school basement being used as a shelter after a Russian airstrike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv A rescue worker passes the body of a victim after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Rescue workers clear the rubble of a house destroyed by a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv Rescue workers carry the body of a victim found under the rubble after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Injured victims stand and smoke after a Russian airstrike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv An injured woman sits with her dog near a house destroyed by a Russian airstrike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Rescue workers clear the rubble from a house heavily damaged after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv Rescue workers clear the rubble after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv A rescue psychotherapist hugs a woman who lost a loved one in front of the bodies of victims after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv The attack kept residents on edge for about 11 hours with many staying awake all night while loud explosions reverberated around the city and flashes of light punctuated the sky Families gathered in public air-raid shelters hit at least five neighborhoods and heavily damaged multiple residential buildings STOP!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon give up its efforts to stop the war if the two sides do not come to agreement to halt the fighting AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on President Trump’s rare criticism of Vladimir Putin after Russian strikes on Ukraine The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine Rescue workers with flashlights searched the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles lit up the dark city streets Asked what Putin is doing now to help forge a peace deal He said in South Africa that the latest attack meant the future of negotiations “depends on Russia’s intention because it is in Moscow where they have to make a decision.” said the latest attack underscored that the main obstacle to ending the war is Russia Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv,” she wrote on social media French President Emmanuel Macron said Putin should “stop lying” when he claims to want peace while continuing to bomb Ukraine “There is only one answer we are waiting for: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?” Macron said during a visit to Madagascar He added that American “anger should focus on just one person: President Putin.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack showed that Putin is determined to press his bigger army’s advantage on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war,” Sybiha said on X “Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression Since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor Russian attacks have killed some 13,000 civilians Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted At least 42 people were hospitalized following the attack on residential suburbs of Kyiv At a Kyiv residential building that was almost entirely destroyed emergency workers removed rubble with their hands rescuing a trapped woman who emerged from the wreckage covered in white dust and moaning in pain her face smeared with blood and her eyes fixed on the ground in shock as medics tended to her wounds Fires were reported in several residential buildings the head of the city military administration she said that she heard a loud explosion after the air alarm blared and began to grab her things to flee to a shelter when another blast caused her home’s walls to crumble and the lights to go off “I honestly don’t even know how this will all end “I only believe that if we can stop them on the battlefield Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that he would fly back to Kyiv after meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa The Ukrainian leader had hoped to recruit further South African support in efforts to end the war with Russia was sheltering in a basement after multiple blasts damaged her home Her family was sleeping when the first explosion shattered their windows and sent kitchen appliances flying in the air Shards of glass rained down on them as they rushed to take cover in a corridor we came to the shelter because it was scary and dangerous at home,” she said the attack flattened a two-story residential building and heavily damaged nearby multistory buildings children helped parents cover blown-out windows with plastic while others queued for government compensation Associated Press journalist Michelle Gumede in Pretoria by Anna FratsyvirRobert Fico Prime Minister of Slovakia during a press conference after their meeting at the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava Slovakia on 28 April 2025 Robert Nemeti/Anadolu via Getty Images)Ukraine’s Embassy in Slovakia on May 4 condemned what it called "anti-Ukrainian" remarks by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico who criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky’s warning that Russia could stage provocations during its May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow In a statement the Ukrainian Embassy said it regretted Fico’s accusations and urged Slovak officials to "more carefully study Russia is responsible for ensuring safety and security on its territory Fico, who plans to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, had earlier denounced Zelensky for "threatening" foreign delegations, calling the remarks "unacceptable" and accusing the Ukrainian leader of disrespecting Russia’s role in defeating fascism in World War II The embassy said that Zelensky had only warned that Russia might exploit the parade to stage provocations and blame Ukraine, and therefore could not guarantee the safety of visiting foreign officials the Ukrainian Embassy said it viewed Fico’s remarks as "deeply regrettable," particularly amid ongoing Russian aggression "Regarding the need not to mix history with the present, the Embassy regrets to note that the current Russian aggression against Ukraine has returned to the scale of atrocities unseen since World War II, which Russia is now using solely to justify the war against our country," the embassy said "It should be remembered that during the Second World War Ukrainian soldiers made a huge contribution to the victory over Nazism having distinguished themselves with extraordinary heroism bravery and self-sacrifice on all fronts," the statement read Highlighting Ukraine’s contribution to the Allied war effort the embassy noted that six million Ukrainians fought against Nazism both in the Soviet army and other Allied forces claimed over eight million Ukrainian lives The embassy also pushed back against Fico’s calls for a ceasefire timed with the WWII anniversary, noting that Ukraine had already agreed to a full ceasefire on March 11 while Russia "constantly rejects this option and puts forward new demands which is not a serious path to peace." is one of few European leaders set to attend Russia’s Victory Day amid the ongoing war in Ukraine On May 9, Russia holds grandiose military parades in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe. Ukraine and most European nations mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day Ukraine has invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Russia's celebration The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, on April 15 warned European leaders against attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. the settlement was home to up to 4,000 people.Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian military and industrial facilities in the rear to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its all-out war Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy by Anna FratsyvirPhoto for illustrative purposes only Russian-controlled forces stand near a tank in occupied Volnovakha (Photo by Leon Klein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Ukraine has captured two Togolese nationals who were fighting alongside Russian forces a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent on April 3 spokesperson for the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said the two individuals are in Ukrainian custody Togo’s Foreign Ministry earlier said the detainees had been misled into leaving the country with promises of scholarships allegedly offered by entities claiming to represent Russian institutions The ministry said most of those involved were young students who ultimately ended up in combat “The ministry is actively working with certain diplomatic partners to shed light on this situation and to provide, as far as possible, the necessary assistance to the people concerned,” the ministry said in a statement, urging citizens to verify any scholarship offers through official channels before committing to study abroad, particularly in Russia The Kyiv Independent has interviewed foreign POWs in Ukrainian custody before They often cite being misled by their recruiters Recently, over 1,500 foreign mercenaries from 48 countries were identified in an April 23 investigation by independent Russian outlet Important Stories Despite earlier claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that foreign fighters were not needed leaked documents from Moscow’s military recruitment system show mass enlistment efforts In early April, two Chinese nationals were captured in Donetsk Oblast while fighting for Russia by Anna FratsyvirThe view from the targeting system of a Magura naval drone shows the moment of engagement with a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea near Novorossiysk (Ukraine’s military intelligence agency / Telegram)A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was destroyed by a sea drone strike carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence marking the first time a sea drone has taken down a jet Ukraine's military intelligence said on May 3 The intelligence agency, HUR, said the unprecedented operation took place on May 2 near the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea and published the video of the strike using a Magura sea drone equipped with a missile warhead "This is the world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone," the statement read The Kyiv Independent can't independently confirm the Ukrainian intelligence report The multi-role Su-30 fighter was reportedly hit in midair and crashed into the sea The operation was conducted in coordination with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the country’s defense forces Ukraine had previously used the Magura V5 drone to down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters on Dec in what was then considered a world-first drone strike on airborne targets from the sea Overnight on May 3, local Russian officials claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on Krasnodar Krai injured four people and damaged homes and a grain terminal in Novorossiysk A state of emergency was declared in the city while the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that over 170 Ukrainian drones and several naval drones were intercepted across Crimea and the Black Sea by Anna FratsyvirPosters in occupied Sevastopol promoting the re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb 2024 (Photo by Ulf Mauder/picture alliance via Getty Images)Russia has canceled this year's Victory Day parade in the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol Russian state-controlled media reported on May 5 Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the Victory Day parade to be held on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II On May 9, Russia holds grandiose military parades in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe. Ukraine and most European nations mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 3 said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 warning Russia could orchestrate provocations or other actions," and attempt to blame Ukraine The cancellation follows a reported Ukrainian sea drone strike that destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near the port of Novorossiysk on May 2 an unprecedented operation described by Ukraine’s military intelligence as the first time a sea drone has downed a jet aircraft The $50 million jet reportedly crashed into the sea Sevastopol, a major naval base on the Black Sea, has been under Russian occupation since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 by Anna FratsyvirFormer deputy head of the Presidential Office Andrii Smyrnov (Ukraine's Presidential Office)Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court on May 5 ordered former deputy head of the President’s Office Andrii Smyrnov into pretrial detention until May 22 as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged large-scale corruption according to a Suspilne correspondent present in the courtroom The court granted prosecutors' request in part setting bail at Hr 18 million (approximately $430,000) Prosecutors had sought to keep Smyrnov in custody with a higher bail amount of over Hr 20 million (approximately $477,000) Smyrnov is under investigation for allegedly legalizing illicit assets and accepting a bribe worth $100,000. Smirnov held the position of president's office deputy head from September 2019 until March 2024, when President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed him without naming a reason His lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to present new evidence or justify the need for detention calling the request "unsubstantiated." The defense maintains that the case has not progressed in over six months and lacks grounds for such a restrictive measure Smyrnov said he would fight the charges and prove his innocence "I consider this decision unfair," he said adding: "I will fight and prove that I am right." According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the suspect acquired assets worth more than Hr 17 million ($426,000) between 2020-2022 although he officially reported his salary and savings for the time period as Hr 1.3 million ($32,500) Smyrnov reportedly purchased two luxury cars, two motorcycles, several parking spaces, an apartment in Lviv, and a land plot in Zakarpattia Oblast In an effort to cover up his ownership of the assets NABU said that he transferred the majority of the property assets to his brother On April 16, Smyrnov was charged with new offenses Smyrnov allegedly laundered nearly Hr 6.5 million ($157,000) by funding the construction of seaside homes in Odesa Oblast registered under another company the properties were re-registered under a trustee’s name Investigators say Smyrnov also accepted $100,000 worth of construction services in 2022 in exchange for using his influence to sway a tender decision by Ukraine’s Antimonopoly Committee by Volodymyr IvanyshynVolodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, speaks at a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 12, 2025. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Ukraine expects 3 million artillery shells from its allies The Kremlin has shown no signs it is willing to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations brokered by the U.S Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent by Dmytro BasmatIllustrative image: In an aerial view parked on the hard standing at Brize Norton (David Goddard/Getty Images)Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 3 that Ukraine's military destroyed a second Russian military aircraft within a 24-hour time period having struck a military airfield in occupied Crimea The strike follows the downing of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet earlier on May 3 by a sea drone, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. The attack marked the "world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone," HUR claimed "I thank our guys who are increasing Ukrainian long-range capabilities – both in the sky and at sea. The shooting down of a Russian military aircraft by our naval drone was brilliant – proof of Ukrainian capabilities," Zelensky said during his evening address Zelensky did not provide additional information on the newly destroyed aircraft only adding that military depots were also destroyed in the attack Ukraine's military has not publicly released details on the attack Ukraine launched a series of drone attack towards occupied Crimea on May 3 with Russia's Air Force claiming it had intercepted 89 drones over the region as well as another 23 drones over the Black Sea Kyiv regularly launches drone and missile attacks towards occupied Crimea a region that Moscow annexed in the midst of the EuroMaidan revolution of 2014 Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University  (Updated:  May 4, 2025 3:51 pm) • 2 min readby Tim ZadorozhnyySmoke rises over the site of a reported attack at the Strela electromechanical plant in Russia's Bryansk Oblast (Astra / Telegram)Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Andrii Kovalenko an official with Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Ukraine attacked the Strela electromechanical plant in Russia's Bryansk Oblast on April 4 Russian pro-government Telegram channel Shot reported The attack sparked a fire covering an area of 250 square meters (about 2,690 square feet) damaging critical infrastructure of the plant The Strela plant, located in Suzemka near the Ukrainian border and other electronics for Russia's defense Andrii Kovalenko an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council claimed the facility can no longer operate after an attack confirmed a fire had broken out at an industrial plant in Suzemka but did not name the facility "There was a fire at an industrial plant production and administrative buildings were destroyed There are no casualties," Bogomaz wrote on his official Telegram channel The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that one drone was destroyed over the region but did not comment on the strike or the damage to the Strela plant The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify all the claims The strike on Strela comes as part of a broader wave of Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian military and industrial infrastructure Ukrainian drones struck the Murom Instrument-Making Plant in Russia's Vladimir Oblast on April 30 damaging two buildings and sparking a fire Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent he is pursuing studies in International Relations Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor by Volodymyr IvanyshynSlovak Prime Minister Robert Fico talks to the media in the Slovak Permanent Representation on January 9, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)Latest: Kyiv responds to Fico’s 'anti-Ukrainian' remarks Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 4 condemned President Volodymyr Zelensky for warning "foreign delegations not to come" to Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9 Zelensky on May 3 said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 "I reject such threats for security reasons. I fully respect that the safety of participants is an internal matter of the Russian Federation. But if Mr. Zelensky believes that his statements will force foreign delegations not to come, then he is deeply mistaken," Fico said The leader called for an "armistice" amid the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II adding that Zelensky should of "remain silent." "It is a great disrespect when someone says to a country that made the greatest contribution to the victory over fascism and suffered the absolute greatest sacrifices we can imagine: 'Well, celebrate, we might drop a drone or something like that on you.' For me these are unacceptable things," Fico said Moscow often situates victory in World War II as a sole Russian achievement and not a multinational one, Jonathan Brunstedt an assistant professor of history at Texas A&M University focusing on nationalism and historical memory in the Soviet Union "They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates," Zelensky said on May 3 Fico a proponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas on April 15 warned European leaders against attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow "What was also discussed very clearly, and said by different member states, is that any participation in the 9th May parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe," she said Kallas said the EU does not want to see any country aspiring to join the bloc participating in celebrations hosted by Putin’s government Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on April 16 that he intends to travel to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin's May 9 Victory Parade despite the EU's pressure Serbia is a candidate country to join the EU and has undergone accession negotiations with the bloc for several years Vucic has reportedly fallen ill, jeopardizing the Serbian president's ability to participate in Russia's celebration, Newsweek reported on May 4 by Tim ZadorozhnyyAn Israeli soldier runs from a Patriot missile launcher on Feb as the anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile is ready to launch in the town of Gadera (David Silverman / Getty Images)A Patriot air defense system based in Israel will be transferred to Ukraine after refurbishment citing four unnamed current and former U.S According to the publication, Western allies are also discussing the logistics of supplying additional systems from Germany or Greece as Russia escalates its attacks across Ukraine The sources declined to go into detail about U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on the decision or clarify whether the move was initiated before he took office during former President Joe Biden's administration Kyiv has consistently pressed Western partners to bolster Ukraine's air defenses, warning that its current capabilities are insufficient to counter the scale of Russian missile and drone assaults The Patriot system a U.S.-made surface-to-air missile platform is widely recognized for its high-precision detection Ukraine currently has eight Patriot systems The remaining two are reportedly undergoing refurbishment President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's urgent need for air defenses in an April 13 interview with CBS News, saying Kyiv is ready to purchase 10 U.S.-made Patriot systems for $15 billion to shield densely populated cities "We will find the money and pay for everything," Zelensky said emphasizing Ukraine's intention to buy Despite Kyiv's appeals, Trump dismissed the request on April 14 accusing Zelensky of "always looking to purchase missiles" and falsely blaming Ukraine for instigating the war Trump's tone on Ukraine has shifted in recent weeks. On April 24, he criticized a Russian strike on Kyiv that killed at least nine civilians and injured 87, calling it "not necessary" and urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the attacks Shortly after taking office, Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia to force negotiations saying "we can do it the easy way or the hard way," though no measures have materialized so far Trump has recently questioned Russia's intentions to seek peace, as Moscow continues to reject a complete ceasefire agreement intensifying attacks against Ukrainian civilian areas takes part in the Ukraine Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base (Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images)Key developments on May 3-4: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire from May 7–9 as a "theatrical performance" designed to ease Russia’s international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow Speaking to journalists in a closed-door session Zelensky reportedly said the proposal was not a serious attempt to end the war and reiterated Ukraine’s support for a U.S.-backed strategy calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire Zelensky warned that Moscow’s history of violating short-term truces undermines any trust in its latest offer then start attacking again on the 11th," he said Putin’s announcement, presented as a "humanitarian truce" from midnight May 8 to midnight May 11, came as the Kremlin continues to reject Ukraine’s calls for a complete cessation of hostilities. More than 50 days ago Ukraine has accepted the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine "An unconditional ceasefire is a model that the Americans have proposed Because it is impossible to agree on anything in three He suggested Putin’s initiative was a gesture intended to simulate goodwill in response to peace signals reportedly delivered by Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff "This is more of a theatrical performance on his part Because it is impossible to build any plan for the next steps to end the war in two or three days,” Zelensky added The Ukrainian president said Kyiv is willing to begin the 30-day truce at any time — "the 1st then from the 7th for 30 days." He emphasized any temporary pause risks being exploited by Russia Zelensky said Ukraine had shared its position with the U.S., U.K., and France and that Washington understood Russia’s proposal was unserious "At least the official position of the White House is that they see this as just games on his part," Zelensky said The Victory Day ceasefire is the latest in a series of truce initiatives announced by Moscow Trump said in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News on May 4 that the U.S may consider implementing additional sanctions against Russia if it does not reach a peace deal with Ukraine to end the war When asked if Trump would sign a sanctions bill touted by close Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump said that "it depends on whether or not Russia is behaving toward coming to a peace." We want Russia and Ukraine to agree to a deal and we’re going to save a lot of people from being killed," Trump continued senators are prepared to vote for "bone-crushing" sanctions against Russia and massive tariffs on countries supporting Moscow When asked if Trump believes the parties are close to establishing a peace deal "I do believe we’re closer with one party, and maybe not as close with the other. But we’ll have to see. I’d like to not say which one we’re closer to," Trump said, adding that he was pleased with the outcome of the minerals deal signed with Ukraine on May 1 Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with the slow progression of peace negotiations, claiming on April 26 that Putin may be "tapping me along," and that Putin may not be interested in ending the war When asked by NBC News whether Trump "misread" Putin's intentions to settle the war Trump responded: "I have no idea." he’s — his ambition was stopped to a large extent when he saw that it was me that was now leading the charge." Frustrated by the lack of progress, Trump has reportedly been wavering over his commitment to continue to serve as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia When asked about his commitment to see a peace deal being achieved Trump said he " hope(s) it gets done." Keep being stupid and keep fighting,'" Trump told NBC News A Patriot air defense system based in Israel will be transferred to Ukraine after refurbishment The sources declined to go into detail about Trump's stance on the decision or clarify whether the move was initiated before he took office Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's urgent need for air defenses in an April 13 interview with CBS News, saying Kyiv is ready to purchase 10 U.S.-made Patriot systems for $15 billion to shield densely populated cities Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) shot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets using air-to-air missiles fired from Magura-7 sea drones near Novorossiysk on May 2 HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov told the War Zone on May 3 The operation marks the first time in history that fighter jets have been downed by unmanned boats. Initially, reports confirmed the destruction of only one jet, but Budanov later clarified that two aircraft were hit "It's a historical moment," he told the publication According to HUR, Group 13, a special operations unit within the agency, executed the strike. A video of the first downed Su-30 was released and widely shared on social media though no visual evidence of the second strike has emerged Budanov said the crew of the first jet survived and was rescued by a civilian vessel while the second crew is believed to have been killed The Sukhoi Su-30 is a $50 million twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter designed by Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau HUR claimed that the aircraft were hit midair and crashed into the Black Sea The Kyiv Independent can't independently verify all the claims The Magura-7 drone, deployed in this operation, is an air defense type of the Magura-5, which previously downed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters on Dec Ukraine has repeatedly used maritime drones to inflict heavy losses on Russian assets in the Black Sea. The Magura drones sank the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov on March 5 and the landing ship Caesar Kunikov on Feb A wave of explosions was heard in Kyiv overnight on May 4 as Russia launched a drone attack against the capital The Czech ammunition initiative will deliver up to 1.8 million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of 2025 Zelensky, who arrived in the Czech Republic on May 4 for an official visit by Anna FratsyvirPresident Volodymyr Zelensky during a TV interview in Washington (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 warning that any incidents on Russian territory fall solely under the Kremlin’s control “Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.” Zelensky cautioned that Russia could orchestrate provocations or other actions,” and then attempt to blame Ukraine He said Kyiv has advised visiting delegations accordingly “I told the foreign minister that when countries reach out to us, we must clearly state: ‘We do not recommend visiting Russia from a (security) standpoint. And if you choose to go, that is your personal decision — do not ask us for guarantees,’” Zelensky said The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Ukraine has shown respect toward nations that have remained neutral or aligned with Russia due to historic ties and that Kyiv continues to engage in diplomatic dialogue with those states In March 2024, Russia launched a missile strike on Odesa during a visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis The explosion occurred just moments after Greek PM and President Zelensky toured the city’s port Russia celebrates the end of World War II in Europe on May 9 marking the occasion with pompous military parades by Tim ZadorozhnyyVladimir Putin during a meeting with workers at the Obukhov State Plant in Saint Petersburg (Contributor/Getty Images)Russian President Vladimir Putin said he constantly considers potential successors and confirmed he has a list of candidates according to a segment of a new pro-Putin regime documentary produced in Russia titled "Russia Putin, 72, has ruled Russia for over 25 years first becoming president in 2000 after serving as prime minister and briefly heading Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) In an interview with pro-Russian state journalist Pavel Zarubin for the documentary, Putin confirmed he assesses the potential of each possible successor I do," he replied when asked directly The Russian president stressed that any successor must earn "the trust of the people," warning that without it a future president would have "no chance to do anything seriously." "There should be a person — and preferably several so that people have a choice — who could achieve this trust from the citizens of the country." Putin himself was chosen as former President Boris Yeltsin's successor in 1999. By 2025, Putin's regime is widely characterized as authoritarian with growing totalitarian features Power remains centralized around the Russian president and security forces that suppress dissent and political opposition Although Russia's Constitution prohibits holding the presidency for more than two consecutive terms, Putin sidestepped the restriction in 2008 by becoming prime minister while his close ally Dmitry Medvedev served as president for one term Putin extended the presidential term from four to six years constitutional amendments passed in 2020 "nullified" his previous terms enabling him to run again in 2024 and potentially stay in power until 2036 by Anna FratsyvirA war crimes prosecutor from the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office examines debris from a Russian drone following a May 2 (Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office/Telegram)Russian forces used drones armed with thermobaric warheads in a mass attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv that injured at least 51 people Ukraine’s regional prosecutors said on May 3 The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the strike late on May 2 involved at least 15 loitering munitions igniting numerous fires across Ukraine’s second-largest city Investigators found that Russian drones carried thermobaric munitions, a type of weapon known for generating powerful blast waves and high-temperature clouds, causing severe destruction and posing extreme risks to civilians Prosecutors said their use may constitute a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law "There were not and could not be any military targets," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 2 "Russia is hitting residential buildings at the very time when Ukrainians are at home when they are putting their children to bed Only tyrants can give such orders and carry them out." The injured included two children, aged 11 and 16. The attack damaged residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses, vehicles, and shops. At least eight victims were hospitalized The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office has launched pretrial investigations into war crimes under Ukrainian criminal code Article 438 Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 12 locations were struck across the city Firefighters and emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish fires and assist residents While Moscow continues to publicly express readiness for peace talks, Ukrainian officials have dismissed such rhetoric as manipulation, pointing to intensifying attacks across the country Kharkiv has faced repeated airstrikes throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion Zelensky renewed calls for Ukraine’s partners to urgently strengthen air defenses "While the world is delaying decisions almost every night in Ukraine turns into a horror that results in the loss of lives Ukraine needs strengthened air defenses," he said In March, 164 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 910 injured, according to UN data — nearly all in areas under Kyiv’s control and primarily due to missile and drone strikes. Russian forces have ramped up aerial attacks in recent weeks on cities including Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. A Russian military blogger said the plane was shot down and said the pilots ejected and were picked up – ‘both are alive, and to hell with the plane’ Why you can trust SCMP1{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2025/05/03/a0a9d750-b1dd-405a-973e-246911e119c2_eb7cdd14.jpg?itok=x80gt2NL&v=1746286948"}ReutersPublished: 11:42pm 3 May 2025Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency said on Saturday Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiysk Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout the three years of full-scale war which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships have wrought havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet Ukraine has previously said it shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a missile fired from the same type of seaborne drone On Friday the Russian Su-30 jet was hit by a missile and crashed into the sea near the naval port of Novorossiysk Ukrainian military intelligence said on Saturday publishing a video of the alleged launch over the Black Sea by Tim ZadorozhnyyRussian activists wave a Stalin flag as they walk by the Washington Monument in an "Immortal Regiment" march in Washington (Amid Farahi / AFP via Getty Images)Pro-Russian demonstrators staged an Immortal Regiment rally in Washington on May 3 to mark 80 years since the end of World War II representatives of NFO Ukrainian Cultural Front D.C It was the first Immortal Regiment rally in the U.S. capital in six years. Ukrainian nationals staged a protest in response The Immortal Regiment was originally a grassroots campaign launched in 2012 to honor WWII veterans Its members have complained that it has since been co-opted by the Kremlin and transformed into a political spectacle While officially commemorating relatives who fought in World War II, the march reinforces narratives of Russian military glory and is used to legitimize Moscow's current military actions, including the war against Ukraine The rally, held ahead of Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, began at Lafayette Square Park near the White House and ended at the World War II Memorial Washington police blocked streets and guarded the march's participants "That's the crazy reality. We have a Russian march in the middle of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States... Justifying war crimes seems fine," Marichka Hlyten, an activist with the Ukrainian Cultural Front D.C., said in a video posted on Facebook Ukrainian protesters carried flags and posters that read "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is wanted for genocide," "Honor the dead, bring Russia to justice," and "Putin = Hitler." They also displayed a photo of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna according to the Ukrainian Cultural Front DC NGO Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, is a cornerstone of Putin's nationalist narrative. By glorifying the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, Putin aims to rally support and frame Russia as a heroic nation resisting Western aggression by Olena GoncharovaThis photograph shows a French Air and Space Force multirole fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale parked on the runway of a Croatian air base located near Zagreb after the first day of the joint military exercise PEGASE 25 the French army began the deployment of a dozen aircraft in Sweden for a "power projection operation" on NATO's northern and eastern flanks (Damir Sencar/ AFP via Getty Images)France plans to manufacture 1,200 AASM Hammer guided air bombs in 2025 The French-made precision bombs are being transferred to Ukraine as part of ongoing defense support and their use by Ukrainian fighter jets has grown significantly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion The AASM Hammer, developed by French company Safran, has become a weapon of choice for Ukraine’s air force thanks to its high accuracy and resistance to Russian electronic warfare, according to Le Parisien The French government asked Safran to integrate air-to-surface missile systems onto Ukrainian fighter jets after American JDAM GPS-guided munitions failed to hit targets Safran reportedly completed the integration "in less than four months in the fall of 2023," enabling precise targeting from Ukraine’s Soviet-era jets Safran's CEO Franck Saudo highlighted the system’s resistance to GPS jamming and compatibility with Ukrainian MiG and Su aircraft Saudo explained that the module feature protects the bombs from Russian GPS jamming and guarantees high target accuracy The French Defense Ministry confirmed earlier that the bombs can be launched from Ukraine’s existing aircraft fleet France hopes to supply Ukraine with around 50 AASM bombs each month The weapon entered service with the French military in 2008 and became standard for the Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft but has since been adapted for use on other aircraft by Dmytro BasmatU.S President Donald Trump talks to reporters after signing an executive order "Unleashing prosperity through deregulation," in the Oval Office on January 31 President Donald Trump said in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News on May 4 that the U.S Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with the slow progression of peace negotiations, claiming on April 26 that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be "tapping me along," and that Putin may not be interested in ending the war  (Updated:  May 3, 2025 10:34 am) • 2 min readby Volodymyr IvanyshynA general view of the Crimean Bridge which connects Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia's Krasnodar Krai on July 25 (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated as Russia's Krasnodar Krai was allegedly targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on May 3 Ukraine regularly strikes military targets within Russia as Moscow continues to wage its war against Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry on May 2 claimed 89 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over occupied Crimea and another 23 over the waters of the Black Sea adding that three residential buildings and a grain terminal were damaged in the Russian port city A state of emergency was declared in Novorossiysk due to the attack The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses downed 170 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 3 along with several missiles and 14 naval drones in the Black Sea On April 25,  the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said a foreign vessel was seized for allegedly being involved in transporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied territories Debris from downed drones was found in the villages of Taman and windows were reportedly shattered in three houses Naval drones were spotted off the coast of Novorossiysk an attack by drones and unmanned boats of the Ukrainian regime is being repelled," he said at 3:31 a.m. Krasnodar Krai is located east of Crimea separated by the Kerch Strait at the closest point between the two territories Ukraine has not officially commented on the reported strikes and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on May 1 that Ukrainian drones struck and destroyed more than 83,000 Russian targets in April units of unmanned systems of the Ukrainian Defense Forces achieved decent results in destroying the enemy," Syrskyi said Russian attacks on Ukraine regularly target civilian infrastructure At least two people were killed and 33 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine on May 1, regional authorities reported. Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent. 2014 following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea peace proposal might include recognizing Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea President Donald Trump denied Ukraine was being pressured to accept the move — while also asserting Ukraine had given up the peninsula in 2014 "without firing a shot." "Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on April 23 The claim that Ukraine simply handed over Crimea when Russia illegally annexed the peninsula in February 2014 ignores years of Moscow's military buildup in the region and the volatile political crisis occurring in Ukraine at the time that left Kyiv ill-equipped to mount a defense Russia’s annexation of Crimea coincided with the Euromaidan Revolution, widely considered the single most consequential political event in Ukraine's independent history that ended with the ousting of then pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych Protesters clash with riot police during the EuroMaidan Revolution in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images)After Yanukovych ordered his security forces to open fire on protestors, killing around 100 people, he fled the country to Russia on Feb. 21, 2014. In the power vacuum left by his departure, Moscow moved to take over Crimea The Kremlin had been amassing troops in Crimea for years thanks to agreements that had allowed it to station its Black Sea Fleet on the peninsula This military presence enabled Moscow to take swift control over Crimea in less than a month Russian special forces without insignia seized the building of the Supreme Council and the Crimean Ministers Council overnight on Feb While the takeover was largely without armed resistance Ukrainian troops stationed at the Balbek Air Base did put up a fight against Russian troops Meanwhile, the U.S. and the U.K. — signatories of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which pledged to uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for Kyiv surrendering its nuclear arsenal — did not come to Ukraine's defense The agreement has been widely criticized for its vague political guarantees rather than firm commitments to protect Ukraine in the case of armed aggression “They explained that they didn't want to irritate Vladimir Putin or provoke a full-scale war in the heart of Europe Ukraine wasn't given a single bullet,” Turchynov recalled Russia began taking its first steps toward its future occupation of Crimea long before 2014 helped along by the government of Yanukovych The Kharkiv agreements, signed by Yanukovych and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 21, 2010, extended Russia's lease to station its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol until 2042. The agreements signed that year also lifted any restrictions on Russian troops' movements around the peninsula "creating all the necessary prerequisites for occupation," Turchynov wrote Russian special forces storm the Ukrainian Belbek Airbase near Belbek, Crimea, Ukraine, on March 22, 2014. (Oleg Klimov / Epsilon / Getty Images)The increase in the Russian fleet's presence, whose troops and military equipment exceeded that of Ukraine's in Crimea was supposed to be in exchange for cheaper Russian gas for Ukraine by applying a discount in the form of canceling customs duties "This was a threat, because at any time, this group (of forces) could have launched wider-scale actions against our country," Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in 2021 Between 2010 and 2014, Russia began covertly bringing in modernized or refurbished equipment into Crimea to strengthen its military forces, according to Ukrainian intelligence (HUR) The agency also recorded incidents when Russia seized Ukrainian navigation equipment in 2011 and 2012 Russian troops were also actively forming new brigades on the Crimean peninsula the Ukrainian army had been experiencing long-lasting funding cuts An ongoing reform of the army resulted in the disbanding of the 32nd Army Corps and the withdrawal of the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment Under the presidency of Viktor Yushchenko from 2005-2010, the issue of the Ukrainian military's combat capability and potential NATO membership was regularly raised These discussions came to a standstill under Yanukovych Toward the end of his presidential term, Yushchenko said in 2009 that the Ukrainian army had become a "victim of political intrigue," hinting that disagreements within the government had led to the impoverishment of the military Viktor Yushchenko leaves the Trade Union House in Kyiv (Graeme Robertson / Getty Images)The situation around the peninsula heated up even more in late 2013 Russia announced the need to conduct additional security measures in the water to ensure safety during the sporting event "Using this legend, the Russian military practiced blocking maritime waters, as well as the airspace, and conducted various reconnaissance operations. They used reconnaissance and long-range radar detection aircraft. They also conducted aggressive reconnaissance activities against Ukraine," Skibitskyi told RFE/RL Russian airborne troops from regions including Tula and Kubinka were reportedly put on high alert and began movement toward the Black Sea coast Ukraine had little capability to respond at that point The Kremlin began its occupation of Crimea while Kyiv was in chaos after Yanukovych fled to Rostov-on-Don following the EuroMaidan Instead of organizing the defense of Crimea pro-Russian associates of the former president were also busy fleeing Ukraine "The entire policy of Yanukovych started to fall into place: it weakened the Ukrainian state, paving the way for both the forthcoming annexation of Crimea and the attempt to separate the eastern and southern oblasts from the rest of the country," a report by the Warsaw Institute published in 2018 read Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine's eastern regions with the use of proxies after it annexed Crimea and attempted to sow instability in the south After an interim government was set up in Kyiv a secret meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council was held on Feb almost a week after Russian forces began their operation on the peninsula The participants decided to put the Ukrainian Armed Forces on full combat alert, appeal to the Budapest Memorandum guarantor countries strengthen the defense of critical infrastructure and create an operational headquarters for responding to the situation in Crimea The decisions did little to drive Russia off the peninsula Ukrainian admiral Denys Berezovskyi took over the Ukrainian Navy on March 1 he refused to comply with the Ukrainian authorities' orders issuing one himself to subordinate units in Crimea military personnel to hand over their weapons to the warehouses and return military equipment to storage facilities then-Defense Minister Ihor Teniukh claimed that Ukraine had 15,000 soldiers on the peninsula at the end of February 2014 Turchynov later said that since the beginning of the occupation 70% of Ukrainian soldiers betrayed their military oath only up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers were combat ready Ukrainian protesters wave Ukrainian flags and call for the removal of Russian forces from Russian-occupied Crimea in Simferopol (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)Pro-Russian men armed with clubs gather outside the Crimea regional parliament building after parliamentarians voted on an illegal referendum on Crimea's autonomy earlier in the day (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)During his presidency in cooperation with Russian intelligence services kept close watch over Crimea even preparing the ground for the upcoming invasion and Security Service officers were infiltrated and captured by Moscow agents "Political disorientation, low morale, poor financial and logistical support, as well as the systematic work of Russian agents in the leadership of the security forces led to mass desertion and defection to the aggressor of most Ukrainian soldiers and officers stationed in occupied Crimea," Turchynov said "Most of the remnants of our military units surrounded and scattered across the peninsula were not even able to fulfill orders and basic requirements of military regulations ensuring the defense of their positions with weapons," Turchynov added Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (L) attend a Russian-Ukrainian summit in Moscow (Sasha Mordovets / Getty Images)Following the forcible seizure of Crimea the Russian government held a referendum on the status of peninsula without international observers and with armed Russian soldiers present at polling locations Russia soon after declared Crimea a part of Russia cementing its illegal annexation on March 21 Most countries do not recognize the results of the referendum "Viktor Yanukovych surrendered Crimea deliberately. There was no pressure on him from the Russian Federation," Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the former head of Ukraine's Security Service, said during Yanukovych's trial in absentia in 2018 The surrender of Crimea to Russia had been planned since 2010, when fugitive President Yanukovych came to office Turchynov signed a decree enacting a decision of the NSDC to relocate military units and law enforcement agencies from Crimea to other regions of Ukraine Within less than a month, Russia had moved to invade and partially occupy parts of eastern Ukraine. The world is full of distorted versions of Ukrainian history The Kyiv Independent wanted to make sure readers had a reliable source of information about important Ukrainian historical events and cultural traditions.The articles featured here are thorough and detailed pieces that span centuries to the current day and include topics from Ukraine’s presidents to the country’s culinary traditions The unprecedented operation allegedly took place on May 2 near the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.