U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Russia's Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko's statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
"Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund," lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected Buk-M3 and Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.
The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
A screenshot of a video of Ukrainian troops announcing the liberation of Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast, July 7, 2023. (Source: President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)
Ukrainian forces liberated the southeastern village of Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast, soldiers announced in a video published by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram.
"The 35th brigade and the 'Arei' territorial defense unit have fulfilled their task and liberated the village of Staromaiorske. Glory to Ukraine!" said a soldier in the video.
Ukrainian troops earlier reported successful advances near Staromaiorske on July 26. The village is located near a group of settlements in Donetsk Oblast that Ukraine liberated in early June at the beginning of its counteroffensive.
On July 25, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces spokesperson Andrii Kovalov also said that Ukraine had driven out Russian forces from their position near the village.
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian forces also continue to advance around Bakhmut, Melitopol, and Berdiansk.
The military entered the village of Andriivka south of Bakhmut on July 25, following a Russian retreat.
On July 24, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukraine had made steady advances along Bakhmut's southern flank over the past week, liberating four square kilometers.
Nathan M. Greenfield
