The Russian economy is losing momentum as the cost of the war mounts — sowing discord at the highest levels of the state and posing growing problems for President Vladimir Putin. After four years of proudly insisting that Russia could withstand sanctions imposed by the West in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is now confronting the reality that the war economy that initially spurred growth is increasingly straining the system. Meanwhile, there is a growing sense that

"Today, Ukraine is bringing home not only an outstanding figure — we are restoring a part of our own historical memory," the statement from the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ reads.

"We are bringing the war home to Russia, and this is entirely fair," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

The visit would mark the first known attendance by a representative of a U.S. president's administration at the forum in several years.

Moscow launched 124 drones across Ukraine, 115 of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, according to the Air Force.

Businessman Timur Mindich, an Israeli citizen, fled to Israel shortly before he was charged and sanctioned last fall.

The package includes maintenance and modification support, spare parts, repair services, logistics assistance, and technical support for FrankenSAM HAWK systems, the U.S. State Department said.

The ministers agreed to hold a second round of consultations regarding Ukraine's Hungarian minority next week.

The number includes 880 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Ukraine first began conducting regular strikes on Russian oil refineries in 2023, with strikes growing in both magnitude and frequency since. In the first five months of 2026, Kyiv has recorded 32 strikes, nearly surpassing the total number of refinery strikes recorded in 2024 at 34, the outlet noted.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will send more troops to Poland, saying the decision was based on his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

The annual award, named in honor of the late investigative journalist Georgiy Gongadze, recognizes journalists committed to independent and principled reporting.

For millions of Europeans, the era of Russian domination over the nations east of the former Iron Curtain remains a vivid, living memory. But while the Kremlin's tide receded across most of Central and Eastern Europe, others remain stuck within Russia's borders, yearning for the freedom of national expression that has yet to materialize. European history is littered with tales of one nation's brutality towards another, but very few nations have experienced what can truly be called a genocide —

Key developments on May 21: * 'Another long-range sanction' — Ukraine strikes Syzran oil refinery, more than 800 kilometers from border * Russia allegedly delivers nuclear warheads for joint exercises with Belarus * Ukraine strikes Russian FSB headquarters in occupied Kherson Oblast, killing and injuring nearly 100 troops * Ukraine developing new low-cost way to down Russian Shahed-type drones * Russian drones hits apartment buildings in Dnipro injuring 15, including 13-year-old boy Ukrai

Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported that most of the injured were taken to hospitals. People have suffered shrapnel wounds, burns, and lacerations.

With much of the focus on Ukraine being placed on the stagnant state of U.S.-led peace talks and recent successful Ukrainian drone strikes against Russia's oil refineries, Western policymakers should not overlook Ukraine's northern border with Belarus. This week, Belarus is participating in alarming Russian-led nuclear warfare exercises. Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly raised concerns about the possibility of Belarus entering the war from the north in support of Russia. None o

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime "must understand there will be consequences if there is aggression against Ukraine, against our people," Zelensky said.

On May 19-20, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping, just days after Donald Trump did the same. Although Putin's visit had been scheduled well in advance, the timing alongside U.S.-China talks has heightened the significance of the trip. Russia analysts expect progress toward expanding the Power of Siberia pipeline, a deal the Kremlin has long pushed for. Despite that, not much had come out of the talks. Putin and Xi signed a joint declaration,

While Russia lost 67 soldiers per square kilometer of advance in October, that figure rose to 165 in January, 244 in February, 254 in March, and 179 in April, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

The operation destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system, valued at an estimated $15 million to $20 million.

TALLINN, Estonia — Among Estonians, there is little confidence that U.S. President Donald Trump would rush to defend their country in the event of a Russian invasion. As a 1.3-million-strong NATO member sharing a border with Russia, Estonia would likely be at the forefront of a potential conflict between the alliance and Moscow — a prospect seen as increasingly realistic since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Publicly, Estonian officials have cast a confident note. While Russia rem

Local residents reported that an oil refining unit at Rosneft's Syzran plant was struck in the Ukrainian attack.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine plans to increase production of the missiles "tenfold" and build additional stockpiles for the fall and winter seasons.

"The enlargement process takes much too long" and "understandably, this creates frustration," said the German chancellor.

"We will not allow Ukrainian or any other imported product to endanger the livelihood of Hungarian farmers and the supply of healthy food to the Hungarian people," said the country's agriculture minister.

Residents in affected areas were urged to remain indoors and seek shelter.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it "unacceptable and incompatible with respect for human dignity, human rights, and international law."

Belarus's Defense Ministry released videos on May 21 showing what it said were heavy equipment allegedly carrying nuclear warheads through a forest, ballistic missile submarines heading to sea training areas, and personnel mounting missiles on aircraft launchers.

A Russian Geran long-range drone struck the Semenivka community on May 20, hitting a farm bus and killing one man while injuring two others.

The number includes 910 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The Kirishi oil refinery, one of Russia's largest, has been shut down since May 5, unnamed sources said.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 20, reaffirming London’s continued support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.