Yuliia Taradiuk

This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin. Key news as of May 9: * Ahead of Victory Day new wave of house evictions in Mariupol began * 'More to come' — Azov Corps drones strike Russian logistics in Mariupol in new footage * Ukraine condemns 'alarming situation' in Russian-occupied Oleshky, civilians trapped in urgent need of aid * R

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.

'The Azov (Corps) is already patrolling its hometown of Mariupol. For now, from the air. But there's more to come," the statement read.

"Residents attempting to buy food or flee in private vehicles are being targeted by Russian drone attacks," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

"Half of the FSB building is completely gone," the Crimean Wind Telegram channel wrote.

"This decision by the authorities is based on security considerations," Crimea's head of Russian occupation authorities, Sergey Aksyonov, said.

Law enforcement officials conducted 44 searches across 16 regions of Ukraine as part of an investigation into current and former senior draft office employees.

Russia has launched over 800 drones against Ukraine's port infrastructure since the beginning of 2026, Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine's deputy prime minister for restoration and minister for communities and territories development, said.

This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin. Key news as of May 2: * Russia begins evictions from "ownerless" apartments in Russian-occupied Mariupol * Belarus bars Russian conscripts from leaving country, raising risks for Ukrainians in occupied territories * Ukraine hits Russian Iskander missile storage facility, oil depot in occupied

Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets said that the Russian side cannot avoid responding to Ukraine's requests if they are communicated through the U.S.

Russian citizens are prohibited from leaving the country after receiving a draft notice. According to the report, Belarus and Russia share conscription bases, so the Belarusian security services have access to them and can detain a person if they are in the base.

According to the report, the tanker MARQUISE was struck by two kamikaze drones launched by a Ukrainian Navy unit.

Russia's Defense Ministry reported on April 29 that its air defense intercepted 98 Ukrainian drones.

Russia launched 171 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.

From the base, Iskander missiles could reach the front lines or rear Ukrainian cities "in a matter of minutes," Special Operations Forces said.