The convictions mark a significant development in Britain's efforts to counter Russian intelligence operations amid heightened tensions stemming from Moscow's war against Ukraine and repeated Kremlin threats toward Kyiv's allies.
According to the Verkhovna Rada's website, Ukraine completed the ratification of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement on May 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the deal.
"I myself have heard relatives talking: our village is being attacked, let's roll the car out of the garage, maybe they will shell it — at least we will get money. The car is old, we can't sell it," Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
The new tranche brings total recent EU defense support for Ukraine to 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion), marking a significant expansion of European efforts to boost Kyiv's defense industry.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
"We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
A Ukrainian soldier is seen inside of a howitzer near Vuhledar frontline amid Russia-Ukranie war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on July 01, 2023. (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Ukrainian military has advanced on Bakhmut's southern flank and solidified newly taken positions, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on July 12.
"We have conducted offensive operations today in the Bakhmut direction on the southern flank of Bakhmut. There are advances. Our defenders are now solidifying the captured positions," Maliar wrote on Telegram.
She added that near Kupiansk, Lyman, Avdiivka, and Mariinka, Ukrainian troops are holding back Russian attempts to advance.
The deputy defense minister also reported on Ukrainian offensive operations on the southern front line in the directions of Melitopol and Berdiansk.
"The military performs many tasks aimed at weakening the enemy and working out the situation before further actions," Maliar commented.
"In recent weeks, our defenders in the south have significantly undermined the offensive and defensive capabilities of the enemy."
Maliar added that thanks to the destruction of numerous ammunition warehouses, the number of Russian attacks has decreased.
Ukraine's counteroffensive is ongoing with heavy engagements in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Oblast. While Ukraine has liberated 14 square kilometers in the past week, some Western partners have commented on the supposedly slow progress of the campaign.
To bolster the counteroffensive, the allies have provided Ukraine with new weapon systems, such as cluster munitions that are meant to be effective in clearing Russian trenches.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
