20,000 people chose to be part of the Kyiv Independent community — thank you.

Skip to content
A civilian building on fire after a Russian drone attack against Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, overnight on May 20, 2025. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured at least 13 over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 20.

Moscow's forces launch air strikes, drone attacks, and artillery strikes against Ukrainian towns and villages on a daily basis, regularly inflicting civilian casualties.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 93 of the 108 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said. Thirty-five of them were shot down, while 58 were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces killed one person in Siversk, and injured three in Kramatorsk, two in Lyman, and one in Kostiantynivka, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, two women aged 45 and 73 were injured during a Russian attack against the village of Starovirivka, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Five civilians were injured during Russian strikes in Kherson Oblast, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. A high-rise building, seven houses, a cell tower, garages, cars, and machinery were damaged.

Russian drones attacked border areas of Sumy Oblast overnight, damaging a civilian facility in the Bilopillia community and starting a fire, the regional military administration said. No casualties were reported.

Ukraine war latest: Putin refuses ceasefire after Trump call; Zelensky rejects Russia’s demand to withdraw troops from 4 regions
Key developments on May 19: * After call with Trump, Putin still refuses full ceasefire, again cites Russia’s ‘root causes’ of war in Ukraine * Zelensky dismisses Putin’s demand to withdraw troops from 4 Ukrainian regions * Commander of Ukraine’s 59th Brigade replaced, media reports * Ukrainian drones destroy Russian radar, supply depots on

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

More than 20,000 people chose to stand behind us. We’re deeply grateful and overwhelmed with your support. Thank you for making it possible.

Let´s see how far we can go?

News Feed

6:17 PM  (Updated: )

Ukraine refutes Russia’s claims of disrupting POW exchange.

"If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 7.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.