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Russia plans 'training' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine's HUR claims

3:44 PM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 4:44 pm)

Russia plans 'training' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine's HUR claims.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), the move is intended to intimidate Ukraine, as well as EU and NATO member states.

3:52 PM

New clips from Putin documentary suggest Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks ago.

The comments — publicly withheld until now — come nearly four months into U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire.

Putin no-show at peace talks and new Russian offensive | Ukraine This Week

3:47 PM

Video

Putin no-show at peace talks and new Russian offensive | Ukraine This Week.

In this week’s episode, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the back-and-forth developments surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. As negotiations stall, the battle rages on in multiple sectors of the front.

Poland, Romania presidential elections held amid Russian interference, far-right surge — what you need to know

12:56 PM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 3:25 pm)

Eastern Europe

Poland, Romania presidential elections held amid Russian interference, far-right surge — what you need to know.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information from Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR). Poland and Romania — key NATO allies bordering Ukraine — are holding presidential elections on May 18, with both votes unfolding under the shadow of Russian interference and rising far-right influence. The simultaneous elections are being

2:12 PM

2 killed, 23 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia attacked with 273 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones.

‘Everything is translation’ — 13th Book Arsenal festival in Kyiv to bridge gaps between language and war

2:00 PM

Culture

‘Everything is translation’ — 13th Book Arsenal festival in Kyiv to bridge gaps between language and war

The 13th Book Arsenal festival, one of Ukraine’s premier interdisciplinary cultural events attracting voices from across the country and around the globe, will take place in Kyiv from May 29 to June 1. Over the course of four days, the festival offers a number of discussion panels, book presentations,

How Russia's Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about it

4:39 PM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 1:16 pm)

Defense tech

How Russia's Shaheds are getting more dangerous — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring

12:32 PM

Russian tank losses in Ukraine — Syrskyi claims 1,159 'hit' since start of year.

At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia was estimated to have around 3,300 operational tanks.

10:24 AM

Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call.

Ukraine's Air Force said it intercepted 88 drones, while 128 others vanished from radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm air defenses. The assault involved coordinated use of electronic warfare units, mobile fire teams, and anti-aircraft systems.

9:48 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 973,730 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,130 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war 'bloodbath'

6:20 PM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 9:35 am)

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end 'bloodbath.'

"Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast kills 1, injures 3

7:08 AM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 9:24 am)

Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast kills 1, injures 3.

An overnight Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast killed one person and injured three more, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported on May 18.

Ukraine's 47th Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams military leadership over 'stupid objectives'

10:10 PM

(Updated: May 18, 2025 8:58 am)

Ukraine's 47th Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams military leadership over 'stupid objectives'

"I have never received more stupid tasks than in the current direction," Oleksandr Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post announcing his decision on May 16. "Someday I will tell you the details, but the stupid loss of people, trembling in front of a stupid generals, leads to nothing but failures."

5:48 AM

Russia kills 1, injures 8 people in Donetsk Oblast.

The Russian military attacked Donetsk Oblast on May 17, killing one person and injuring an additional eight. The attack occurred in the morning and impacted the Yablunivka settlement, as well as Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Andriivka.

2:56 AM

Ukraine takes 9th place in Eurovision 2025.

Ukrainian band Ziferblat took ninth place at the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. Their song "Bird of Pray" received 218 points – 60 from the jury and 158 from the audience.

2:08 AM

Canadian PM Carney reaffirms support for Ukraine in first meeting with Zelensky.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time on May 17 in Rome, where Carney reaffirmed his country's "steadfast and unwavering support" for Ukraine.

7:52 PM

Rubio says Vatican could host peace talks, praises Holy See’s role in Ukraine war.

Asked whether the Vatican could act as a peace broker, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he "wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going."

5:42 PM

Ukraine’s Security Service begins preparations for 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap with Russia.

The planned exchange follows an agreement reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025.

4:17 PM

Lavrov, Rubio discuss results of Istanbul peace talks, Russian media reports.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly welcomed what he described as a “constructive” role by Washington in encouraging Kyiv to accept President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume peace talks in Istanbul.

3:57 PM

EU prepares sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, German FM says.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany and its allies are responding to hybrid threats in the Baltic region with increased patrols and renewed pressure on Russia's covert shipping operations.

3:08 PM

Russia sentences Australian fighting for Ukraine to 13 years in prison in sham trial.

The so-called Supreme Court of the Russian-controlled Luhansk Oblast found Jenkins guilty under Russian criminal law for participating in armed conflict as a mercenary.

2:50 PM

1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange likely to take place next week, Ukraine intelligence chief says.

A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia involving around 1,000 POWs from each side is expected to take place next week, Ukraine's military intelligence chief said on air on May 17, following an agreement reached in Istanbul.

1:46 PM

Putin signs decree easing Russian citizenship process for residents of occupied Abkhazia, South Ossetia.

According to the decree, all adult "citizens" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia who held that status as of Aug. 26, 2008, the day Russia recognized the territories as "independent," are now eligible to apply for Russian citizenship through an expedited process.

12:59 PM

Russian strikes kill at least 13, injure over 30 across Ukraine in past 24 hours.

Russian forces launched a massive drone assault across Ukraine overnight, using 62 drones including Shahed-type attack UAVs and decoy drones from Russia and occupied Crimea.

12:24 PM

Moscow questions Kyiv's authority, says Ukraine's choice of signatory key to any peace deal.

"For Russia, the most important and principal matter when signing documents between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations is the identity of the person authorized to sign on behalf of Ukraine," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Russian drone strike on civilian bus in Sumy kills 9, injures 7

10:13 AM

(Updated: May 17, 2025 12:18 pm)

Russian drone strike on civilian bus in Sumy kills 9, injures 7.

Russia launched a drone strike on Sumy Oblast in the early morning of May 17, killing nine people and injuring four more. The drone targeted a shuttle bus that was transporting civilians near the city of Bilopillia at 6:17 a.m. local time.

11:35 AM

Ukrainian drones strike Russian ammunition depot in occupied Crimea, source says.

The depot, located near a key highway between Simferopol and Alushta, reportedly housed military equipment, ammunition, and fuel storage facilities. Local residents reportedly described thick smoke over the military compound.

10:00 AM

Polish PM Tusk blames Russian hackers for cyberattacks ahead of presidential election.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the cyberattacks hit the website of his Civic Platform party, as well as those of its coalition partners, the Left and the Polish People’s Party (PSL).

9:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 972,600 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

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

6:20 AM

Russia's economic growth slowing down, Rosstat reports.

Russia's economy is experiencing a sharp slowdown in growth, according to a report released by the governmental statistics agency Rosstat on May 16. GDP only grew by 1.4% in the first quarter of 2025 – a notable decline from 4.5% growth in the previous quarter and 5.4% in the same period last year.

2:44 AM

'This is turkey time' — Trump vows sanctions on Moscow if peace talks fail, says Putin is 'tired' of war.

"Honestly, I will (impose sanctions), if we're not gonna make a deal," Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier in an interview published on May 16. "This would be crushing for Russia because they're having a hard time now with the economy."

12:54 AM

As Russia sticks to hardline demands during peace talks, Europe frustrated with Trump’s swerves, Bloomberg reports.

European officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they remain unsure of U.S. President Donald Trump's next move and fear that his unpredictable stance could undercut momentum toward a unified Western response.

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10:59 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 6, injure 22 over past day.

Russian forces launched four S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and 157 Shahed drones against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

5:34 AM

(Updated: July 6, 2025 10:41 am)

Russian airports cancel flights amid drone attacks on Russia.

Russian air defenses on July 5 shot down four drones advancing on Moscow, prompting a temporary halt to outgoing flights at Sheremetyevo, one of the capital's main airports.

9:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,026,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

9:09 PM

(Updated: July 6, 2025 8:26 am)

Pipelines supplying Russian military explode in Russia's Far East, HUR source says.

Explosions near Russia's Vladivostok damaged a gas pipeline and destroyed a water pipeline that supplied military facilities in the area, an unnamed intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent on July 5.

6:58 AM

Musk launches 'America Party' following public feud with Trump.

The announcement came a day after Trump signed his sweeping tax cut and spending bill into law, a legislative act that Musk has fiercely opposed.

4:17 AM

Rutte praises Trump in a NYT interview while warning of Russia's rising threat to NATO.

"Russia is reconstituting itself at a pace and a speed which is unparalleled in recent history," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, adding that "...they are now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as the whole of NATO is doing in a year."

1:49 AM

Kremlin's war economy shows cracks as military spending boom fades.

The slowdown indicates that Western sanctions, though not a knockout blow, are increasingly damaging the Russian economy.

11:09 AM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 10:50 pm)

Trump says Putin 'wants to keep killing people,' signals US may send Patriots to Ukraine.

"It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

10:29 PM

Zelensky describes phone call with Trump as 'best conversation in all this time.'

"Patriot (missiles) are key to protection from ballistic (missiles). We discussed several other important issues that our teams will work out in detail at meetings in the near future," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

7:35 PM

BlackRock halted Ukraine recovery fund following Trump victory, France working on replacement, Bloomberg reports.

BlackRock, a U.S. investment firm, suspended work on its multibillion-dollar Ukraine recovery fund following U.S. President Donald Trump's election victory, prompting France to work on a replacement, Bloomberg reported on July 5.

6:05 PM

Ukraine hits Russian electronic warfare facility making Shahed, Iskander components, General Staff says.

The facility develops and manufactures Kometa adaptive antenna arrays used in Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules, according to the Ukrainian military.

5:33 PM

Russia captures 2 villages near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border, monitoring group says.

Russian troops have been escalating their assaults in the area and are attempting to breach into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has not seen significant Russian incursions since 2022.

4:44 PM

Ukraine's army chief warns of new Russian offensives in northeast as he visits Kharkiv Oblast front.

Russian troops are ramping up attacks in the sector using large numbers of troops, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

9:11 PM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 2:46 pm)

'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 2 dead, 26 injured.

Fires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 of the victims hospitalized.

2:27 PM

EU to help Moldova fight hybrid attacks from 'agents of autocracy,' von der Leyen says ahead of September election.

"Who is behind those attacks is clear to all of us here," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

2:08 PM

Drone threat reportedly causes mass flight delays in Russia's Moscow, St Petersburg airports.

Some passengers reported waiting more than 10 hours, according to the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot.

1:03 PM

Russia seeks to involve Laos in war against Ukraine, military intelligence claims.

Moscow is organizing the deployment of a combined unit of military engineers from the Lao People's Armed Forces to Russia's Kursk Oblast, allegedly to help with demining operations, Ukraine's military intelligence said.

11:49 AM

4 killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 322 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

7:44 AM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 11:10 am)

Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfield hits bomb depot, aircraft.

The airfield hosts Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM jets that Russia regularly uses in air strikes against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military.

9:20 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

8:00 AM

New NATO commander takes helm as alliance lauds outgoing chief for modernizing defense.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presided over the handover, commending outgoing U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli for his contributions to modernizing NATO's collective defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.

5:47 AM

Moldova's EU future rests on September election, President Sandu says.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu hopes her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) will retain its parliamentary majority in the September 28 elections.

4:41 AM

NATO chief urges US 'flexibility' on Ukraine aid as Washington halts deliveries.

"The US has to make sure that the stockpiles are at the level we need for the U.S. to have, because they are crucial for our collective defense," Rutte told reporters on July 4. "At the same time, of course, we hope for the flexibility, we have to make sure also that Ukraine can move forward."

2:59 AM

'Coalition of the willing' for Ukraine to meet in UK on July 10, Politico reports.

"On the agenda, there's how to maintain Ukraine in a capacity to fight, how to increase pressure on Russia, and how to continue the work on the next steps," an unnamed French official told Politico.

12:44 AM

US did not halt weapons shipments to Ukraine, Meloni says.

The U.S. has "reviewed" the components it is supplying Ukraine, but did not halt assistance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

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