U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed their countries' relationship on May 8, vowing to increase cooperation in all areas, including military ties.
"There is Turkey, which maintains channels of communication. And then, above all, there is the People's Republic of China, which, more than anyone else, has the means to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin come to the negotiating table and soften his demands," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on May 8.
The United States will be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on May 8.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
US President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed his hope for "an acceptable ceasefire," with both countries "held accountable for respecting the sanctity of... direct negotiations."
President Volodymyr Zelensky had a "constructive" phone call with United States President Donald Trump on May 8, discussing the war, continued pressure on Russia, and a potential ceasefire.
The survey, conducted between April 24 and May 4, shows that 56.9% of respondents would not be willing to compromise on either territorial integrity or Ukraine’s pro-Western direction in any potential talks with Moscow.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
Air defense intercepted an attack drone over Moscow on Aug. 11, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram. The drone debris fell in the area of the Karamyshevskaya embankment in western Moscow, according to Sobyanin.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the aircraft had been neutralized by electronic warfare and crashed in a forest.
The defense ministry alleged that Ukraine had attempted to strike an unnamed facility in Moscow. Kyiv hasn't yet commented on the attack.
There were no casualties and "serious damages," added Sobyanin.
Russian Telegram channel Mash published videos showing the drone flying over Moscow and the smoke rising after the air defense work.
According to eyewitnesses, cited by Mash, the drone flew along the Moskva River 150 meters above the ground, followed by an explosion.
Dinara Khalilova
Mash added that fragments of the fallen drone had been found in the green area of the Vorokhobov City Clinical Hospital located near the Karamyshevskaya embankment in Moscow's Khoroshevo-Mnevniki District. First responders are reportedly working on the site.
The Kyiv Independent is unable to verify any of those claims.
Drone attacks against Moscow have intensified over recent weeks. Two drone strikes on the same target, the high-rise "Moscow City" building where several Russian ministries are housed, caused damage on July 30 and Aug. 1.
While Russia blames the Ukrainian military for the strikes, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.
On Aug. 10, Russian multi-weapon attacks against four Ukrainian oblasts killed four civilians and injured 41, according to regional authorities.
Elsa Court
