Tania Myronyshena

Russia will celebrate Victory Day on May 9 — the most sacred date in its political calendar and the centerpiece of a state-built cult of war. Over more than two decades of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule, the Soviet memory of World War II has moved far beyond commemoration, with its complexities and crimes erased in favor of a simplified, heroic narrative that has also been weaponized — the Kremlin has used the language of World War II to frame its enemies, above all Ukraine, as "Nazis,

Editor's Note: Read the latest developments on Victory Day and Trump's surprise 3-day ceasefire. Tensions have been mounting this week ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, with an apparent uptick in Ukrainian drone attacks prompting a flurry of speculation, ceasefire proposals, and threats of strikes and counterstrikes. What’s happening this weekend? If you take the rhetoric at face value, possibly a Ukrainian strike on Russia's most important parade of the year, and a massiv

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).

Zelensky said Ukraine would answer Russia’s ceasefire violations with further long-range strikes deep inside Russia.

One drone may have crashed at the oil base, while the location of the second drone is still being searched for, Deputy Police Chief Andris Zellis said in an interview with Latvian Television, Delfi reported.

Russian attacks killed 13 people and injured 54 others across Ukraine over the past day, with Sumy city authorities declaring May 7 a day of mourning.

The figure includes 890 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Updated contracts should allow previously mobilized soldiers to leave service, with timelines yet to be determined.

The local military administration said 36 aerial targets were detected over the city during the attack, 27 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.

Russian forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 210 drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said. It reported downing 190 drones.

Russian forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 206 drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.

Over 300 AI-related developments are registered on the Brave1 platform, while more than 70 systems based on artificial intelligence and computer vision are already in active use on the battlefield, according to the ministry.

The interception was carried out by a naval drone unit of the 412th Nemesis Brigade operating in the maritime zone.

The case is part of a broader wave of prosecutions targeting Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) captured during Ukraine's cross-border operation into Kursk Oblast launched in August 2024.

Ukraine's Air Force said it shot down 203 of 236 Russian drones overnight. Direct hits by 32 drones were recorded at 18 locations, while falling debris was reported at eight additional sites.