Nearly three quarters of government-controlled Donetsk Oblast population displaced.

6:54 AM  (Updated:  May 16, 2025 9:10 am)

Explosions heard in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack as Ukraine-Russia peace talks loom.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv amid a Russian drone attack on the capital in the early hours of May 16, as Ukraine and Russia are set to begin peace talks later in the day.

9:05 AM

Explosions rock occupied Crimea as drone attack reportedly sets Russian ammo depot on fire.

A fire broke out at an ammunition depot in the village of Perevalne in Russian-occupied Crimea following a series of explosions during a drone attack on the morning of May 16, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported, citing local residents.

8:08 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 971,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,100 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

8:06 AM

Ukraine 'lost contact' with F-16 during combat, pilot ejected, Air Force says.

The Air Force "lost contact" with an F-16 jet during a mission to repel a Russian aerial attack overnight on May 16 following an emergency situation on board, the Air Force reported.

7:51 AM

Ukraine to receive $84 million from World Bank to restore homes damaged in Russia's war.

Ukraine will receive $84 million from the World Bank to restore housing damaged in Russia's war, the Finance Ministry announced on May 15.

7:20 AM

Ukrainian citizen charged in arson attacks on UK Prime Minister's property.

Ukrainian citizen, Roman Lavrynovych, was charged on May 15 following a series of arson attacks on property linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

5:52 AM

Ukraine faces more diplomatic pressure to end war than Russia, Zelensky says.

"Ukraine is fighting for itself, we are not ready to lose our lives and our land. It doesn't mean that we are aggressors," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

3:57 AM

'Putin did not show up' — EU to adopt Russian sanctions on May 20 after Putin snubbed peace talks with Zelensky.

The European Union will adopt sanctions against Russia on May 20 in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's declining to attend face-to-face talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 15.

2:09 AM

Upwards of 640,000 Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine, Syrskyi says.

Russia's ground forces participating in combat against Ukraine amount to upwards of 640,000 soldiers, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 15.

11:44 PM

Russia ready to begin peace talks with Ukraine on May 16, Russian official says.

A Russian delegation will await its Ukrainian counterparts to begin direct peace talks at 10 a.m. local time in Istanbul on May 16, Vladimir Medinsky, Russia's delegation lead and advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

10:46 PM

'We didn't oppose it' — Rubio denies opposing Zelensky's participation at NATO summit.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 15 denied reports that the United States opposes President Volodymyr Zelensky's participation at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

10:14 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky sends delegation to Istanbul, as peace talks with Russia are expected on May 16

10:04 PM

Peace Talks

'It's a mess' — after all the hype, Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul descend into name-calling shambles

Istanbul — it’s where Asia meets Europe, but as we now know, not where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

5:06 PM  (Updated:  May 15, 2025 10:03 pm)

Zelensky sends Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul, as peace talks with Russia are expected on May 16.

"Out of respect for President Trump, the high level of the Turkish delegation, and President Erdogan, and since we want to try to achieve at least the first steps toward de-escalation, an end to the war – namely a ceasefire – I have decided to send our delegation to Istanbul," Zelensky said.

10:01 PM

Who really funds the Kyiv Independent?

A closer look at how the Kyiv Independent is financed and how our reader-revenue funding model works.

9:41 PM

Putin appoints Russian Ground Forces Commander Saliukov to Security Council role.

It remains unclear who will replace General Oleg Saliukov as commander of the Ground Forces.

9:25 PM

Level of Russian delegation 'not indicative' of breakthrough in Istanbul peace talks, Rubio says.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said that meaningful progress would likely only come through a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

8:45 PM

Putin delays ceasefire by snubbing peace talks with Zelensky, Starmer says.

"What's happened today is further evidence that it's Putin who is dragging his feet," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

7:32 PM

Norway to complete F-16 deliveries to Ukraine by end of 2025, minister says.

The country confirmed in July 2024 that it would donate several of the U.S.-made aircraft as part of Western efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.

7:13 PM

US proposes reviving NATO-Russia Council, Bloomberg reports.

The United States is proposing to revive the NATO-Russia Council as part of a broader American plan to end the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on May 15, citing unnamed sources.

4:51 PM

Putin extends Russia’s current defense strategy to 2027 amid expected peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey.

The extension of the current defense plan, initially set for 2021–2025, was confirmed by the Kremlin, though specific details remain classified.

4:44 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 25

4:04 PM

‘My heart goes out to the beloved people of Ukraine’ — Pope Leo XIV receives list of Ukrainian POWs at Vatican.

The Ukrainian delegation present in the Vatican included the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election.

3:56 PM

'Bark from Moscow' — Kyiv hits back as Russian Foreign Ministry insults Zelensky.

"Not the first time the Russian Foreign Ministry becomes a laughing stock," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said after his Russian counterpart, Maria Zakharova, called Zelensky a "clown."

3:35 PM

Trump expects no progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks until he meets Putin.

"Nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together," U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One before landing in Dubai as part of his Middle Eastern tour.