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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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.
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.
Medical workers take care of a Covid-19 patient on Oct. 27, 2021, at the resuscitation department of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 4. (kyivcity.gov.ua)
Kyiv is seeing a rapid increase in new coronavirus cases, as another Covid-19 wave is gripping Ukraine. The capital detected 1,919 new daily cases on Jan. 25, the highest number since early November.
Kyiv also registered the highest number of Covid-19 deaths compared to any region in Ukraine on the same day: Out of 141 people who died of Covid-19 on Jan. 25, 13 were in Kyiv.
Although the capital is still in the yellow restriction zone, or the second least strict quarantine level which requires basic anti-epidemic measures, its latest Covid-19 numbers show that it’s one step away from Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, which is currently in the strictest red restriction zone.
Health Ministry announced the beginning of a new Covid-19 outbreak earlier on Jan. 19. The ministry expects this wave to peak in February.
Since the highly transmissible Covid-19 variant Omicron was first detected in Ukraine on Dec. 18, the strain has reportedly spread in 17 out of 24 oblasts. However, Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on Jan. 24 that Omicron hasn't yet become the dominant variant in Ukraine.
The ministry identified western Ukraine, specifically Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, as the epicenter of the new outbreak. The region entered the red restriction zone on Jan. 24.
Ivano Frankivsk Oblast will soon be followed by Rivne Oblast which will enter the red zone on Jan. 27, according to the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, Lviv authorities decided to tighten quarantine restrictions starting on Jan. 26, to “prevent it entering the red zone.” Both Rivne and Lviv oblasts have seen an increase in new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations over the past three days.
The red zone rules stipulate that most non-essential shops and venues must ask to see a Covid-19 vaccination certificate, negative PCR or antigen test, or a certificate of recovery before allowing entry. Educational institutions with a staff vaccination rate of less than 100% must stop operating.
Currently, 13 out of 24 oblasts are in the orange zone, the second strictest quarantine zone in Ukraine. Ten oblasts and the city of Kyiv are in the yellow zone.
Although the infection rate has been growing for the last three weeks, the number of hospitalizations is twice lower compared to the outbreak in the spring of 2021. According to Lyashko, the low hospitalization rate is observed due to nationwide vaccination.
However, the vaccination rates remain low in Ukraine. The country has fully vaccinated only 14.5 million people, or 38% of its general population and 46% of its adult population.
Ukrainians and foreigners can get vaccinated at one of the mass vaccination centers or a local clinic. See the list here.
Daria Shulzhenko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been a lifestyle reporter at the Kyiv Post until November 2021. She graduated from Kyiv International University with a bachelor’s in linguistics, specializing in translation from English and German languages. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and researcher.
