Ahead of Victory Day, Russia distributes propaganda leaflets by drone in Ukraine's border areas

Russia has used drones to drop propaganda leaflets resembling Ukrainian banknotes in border areas ahead of Victory Day, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said.

When the leaked transcripts were first published on April 28, the President's Office declined to comment, while President Volodymyr Zelensky has stayed tight-lipped on the scandal since it broke in November.

The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post and Nick Allard embed with sailors of the Ukrainian Navy operating small mine-clearing vessels off the coast of Odesa. Using sea drones and sonar systems, these crews identify potential explosives and secure maritime routes — often under the threat of Russian drone and missile attacks.

The Kyiv Independent is proud to announce that the Kyiv Independent’s reporter Asami Terajima has been shortlisted for the 2026 One World Media Awards in the Print Award category.

The fire, previously estimated at around 2,400 hectares (5,930 acres) on May 7, has now expanded to about 4,300 hectares (10,600 acres).

Ukrainian drones previously attacked local oil infrastructure overnight on April 29-30.

Instead of going to court, Russia's oligarchs are relying on a 1989 investment treaty, which Belgium and Luxembourg signed with the Soviet Union.

Rustem Umerov said he and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed humanitarian issues, prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, and peace efforts.

A Ukrainian delegation asked U.S. State Department officials to verify whether sanctioned vessels in Russia's shadow fleet are using Starlink technology, which could violate U.S. sanctions policy.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed later in the day that Ukrainian forces attacked the city of Yaroslavl, targeting an oil infrastructure facility.

Russia is deploying an additional four regiments, 24 battalions, and 162 batteries to counter Ukrainian strike drones, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

"(Russia) wants permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.