White smoke rises over Sistine Chapel, signaling election of new pope
The smoke, a traditional sign of a successful papal conclave vote, appeared after a round of balloting by the College of Cardinals on May 8.
Ukraine
Over 100 clashes reported on the front line since Russia’s Victory Day ceasefire began
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
Will Trump help Putin escape punishment for his crimes in Ukraine?
Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. took the unprecedented step of deepening cooperation with international courts of law. Washington has never been party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC), and U.S. policy towards the Hague-based international tribunal has varied widely
Ukraine is sending the war back to Russia — just in time for Victory Day
Over the past days, Moscow's grand avenues, like every year in early May, were taken over by the growling of 80-year-old tanks and the smell of gasoline burned by military vehicles. To the delight of many locals, soldiers marched in multiple rehearsals for the May 9 Victory Day Parade in
Two killed in Kyiv suburb shooting over illegal arms deal
The shooting occurred around 3:22 p.m. local time in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a residential area in Bucha district, according to the Kyiv regional police.
European Parliament passes resolution demanding return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia
Lawmakers urged the EU and its member states to step up efforts to hold Moscow accountable through international courts and support for Ukraine’s campaign to bring its children home.
US, Russia discuss potential revival of Russian gas exports to Europe, Reuters reports
Washington’s involvement may also help mitigate political opposition in Europe, while giving the U.S. strategic visibility over future Russian energy flows, sources told Reuters.
EU provides Ukraine with $1 billion tranche under G7 loan covered by Russian assets
This is the fourth such tranche from the bloc, which is secured by proceeds from frozen Russian assets.
‘I’m not fine’ — Intimate scenes of life during war (Photos)
An abandoned bed that often remains empty until morning as its usual occupants seek shelter during Russian attacks. A backpack with essentials to take along during each air raid. A family hug during a blackout, when a flashlight brings out the invisible on a mother’s face in daylight. After
Russia's ballistic missiles make April deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since last fall, UN reports
At least 19 children were killed and 78 injured in April, the highest verified monthly number of child casualties since June 2022.
Ukraine's parliament ratifies minerals deal between Washington, Kyiv
The agreement, signed on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund between Kyiv and Washington and grants the U.S. special access to projects developing Ukraine's natural resources.
Russian attacks kill, injure Ukrainian civilians despite Putin's Victory Day 'ceasefire'
Three women in Kharkiv, believing the truce was in effect, were injured by a Russian drone while gardening.
Existing EBRD funds not enough to restore Chornobyl Nuclear Plant confinement after Russian attack, the Guardian reports
Russian forces struck the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant with a drone on Feb. 14, breaking through the confinement and creating a 15-meter hole in it.
‘Clearly, Ukraine is holding cards’ — economist on why US pressure won’t force Kyiv to concede
If Ukraine’s military resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion stunned the world, its economic resilience in the face of a larger, better-equipped enemy is a lesser-known story of the war. A combination of rapid state expansion, prudent monetary policy, active civil society in Ukraine, and crucial external funding from
Russia has damaged, destroyed over 2,300 medical infrastructure facilities since beginning of full-scale invasion, health ministry says
Some 2020 medical facilities were partially damaged, while another 305 were completely destroyed, the ministry's statement read.
General Staff: Russia has lost 961,970 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,200 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Ukraine can rely on Europe, new German FM Wadephul says.
"Everyone in Moscow must know that they have to reckon with us. Europe will support Ukraine," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said.
Ukraine considers moving closer to euro rather than dollar, Reuters reports
Ukraine is considering moving away from the U.S. dollar and closer to the euro as a benchmark for the hryvnia, National Bank Governor Andrii Pyshnyi told Reuters.
Military communications in Moscow Oblast sabotaged amid Russia's Victory Day celebrations, partisans claim
The Atesh partisan group claims it disabled communication at several Russian military facilities when it allegedly destroyed equipment at a transformer substation in the village of Mogiltsy in Russia's Moscow Oblast.
Bessent agrees Putin is a war criminal, but peace talks should continue, he says
When asked if he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied, saying, "Yes."
Vance says Russia 'asking for too much' in talks to end war
"The Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on May 7, according to Politico.
EU eyes new sanctions over Russian hybrid threats, chemical weapons use in Ukraine, Reuters reports
EU ambassadors began talks this week on a 17th sanctions package that targets Russia’s military-industrial complex, Moscow’s shadow shipping fleet, and related support networks.
'She fed all the birds, dogs, and cats' — 64-year-old animal rescue volunteer and son killed in Russian attack on Kyiv
Serhii Mandryk was on a call with acquaintances in Canada in the early hours of May 7. An air raid alert had sounded in Kyiv a few hours earlier but he decided to stay at home and go ahead with it rather than head for a shelter. He assured everyone
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says
Key developments on May 7: * Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says * Kellogg says Ukraine proposed 30-km demilitarized buffer zone, admits Putin main obstacle to ceasefire * Two volunteers die in Ukraine mine-clearing incident, including British aid worker Chris Garrett * Ukrainian drones reportedly
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 24
Editor’s note: This is issue 24 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from April 28–May 4, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks
Wave of drones target Moscow again, prompting further airport closures
The repeated drone activity prompted renewed temporary airport closures across the region.
German Chancellor Merz plans visit to Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the trip is currently being coordinated and emphasized that the European Union must do “everything possible” to help secure a lasting cessation of hostilities beyond the upcoming weekend.
Azeri and Laotian leaders to skip Russia’s Victory Day parade, Kremlin says
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Laotian leader Thongloun Sisoulith will not attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.
14 killed, 54 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Russia launched 187 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones and five Iskander-M ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says
The strikes, according to the SBU, triggered heightened alert measures across the Moscow Oblast, forcing Russian authorities to enact “Plan Cover,” a security protocol that includes grounding civilian air traffic.
Ukraine Business Roundup — Making sense of the minerals deal
The following is the May 6, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. As I’m sure you saw, the U.S. and Ukraine finally signed the minerals agreement after months
Two volunteers die in Ukraine mine-clearing incident, including British aid worker Chris Garrett
Garrett, 42, from the Isle of Man, was widely known for his high-risk volunteer work removing mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces.
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