The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine war latest: Russia bolsters Moscow air defense as drone threat increases

The Kyiv Independent news desk — Thu, 28 May 2026 17:38:08 GMT

Key developments on May 28:

Russia deploys new Pantsir systems on Moscow rooftops as Ukrainian drone threat grows
3 Russian shadow fleet tankers attacked by drones near Turkey's Black Sea coast
Sweden announces 16 Gripens for Ukraine
Ukraine strikes Tuapse oil refinery again, General Staff vows 'systematic&

US, Iran reach 60-day ceasefire deal reopening Strait of Hormuz, sources say

Tim Zadorozhnyy — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:43:14 GMT

The deal is still pending U.S. President Donald Trump's approval, U.S. officials said.

Ukraine's parliament gives final sign-off on EU loan, first payment expected mid-June

Chris Powers — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:17:55 GMT

"I am grateful to all the MPs who so promptly ratified the agreement," President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the vote.

3 Russian shadow fleet tankers attacked by drones near Turkey's Black Sea coast

Chris York — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:46:58 GMT

The tankers James II, Altura, and Velora were all around 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast of northern Turkey when the attacks occurred.

What can we pencil-pushers do for Ukraine?

Henrik Harr — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:12:19 GMT

By the time our papers are done, the sun is up, and birds are chirping. Crossing the border to Ukraine with six cars has taken all night. During the coming weeks, mechanics will remodel the 4x4s for the front, and volunteers will repack boxes in line with hospital and front-unit

Russia deploys new Pantsir systems on Moscow rooftops as Ukrainian drone threat grows

Polina Moroziuk — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:51:18 GMT

Russia appears to be placing newer Pantsir air defense systems on Moscow rooftops as Ukraine’s long-range strikes continue to reach deep inside Russian territory.

Sweden announces 16 Gripens for Ukraine. Here's why that's a big deal

Polina Moroziuk — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:19:57 GMT

The transfer would further expand Ukraine's fleet of Western-supplied fighter aircraft, which already includes American F-16s and French Mirage 2000s but remains insufficient to fully defend Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from daily Russian missile and drone attacks

Armenian elections pitch Putin against Trump

Chris Powers — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:19:12 GMT

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will "help our wonderful American energy companies gain access from Central Asia all the way to the United States," Trump wrote.

Exclusive: How US envoy's preplanned trip caused a diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels

Tim Zadorozhnyy — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:26:07 GMT

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on May 28 that the U.S. embassy was the only foreign mission to evacuate Kyiv following Russian threats of a major strike.

"What we heard from Ukraine yesterday was that all the embassies stayed, except one, so that also

Ukraine strikes Tuapse oil refinery again, General Staff vows 'systematic' strikes on Russia's military-industrial targets

Polina Moroziuk — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:31:30 GMT

The strikes are a part of Ukraine's ongoing "long-range sanctions" campaign targeting Russia's military-industrial and energy infrastructure deep behind the front line, as Kyiv seeks to impose higher costs on Moscow's war effort.

Russian attacks kill 2, injure 23 across Ukraine over past day as Kherson strike devastates family

Polina Moroziuk — Thu, 28 May 2026 08:38:39 GMT

A Russian strike on a children's playground in Kherson left a father dead and his family seriously wounded.

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,360, 110 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

The Kyiv Independent news desk — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:33:44 GMT

The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

UK spy chief reveals new estimate of Russia's massive losses in Ukraine

Dmytro Basmat — Thu, 28 May 2026 03:39:37 GMT

The latest estimates appear to be significantly higher than figures published earlier this month by independent Russian media outlets Mediazona and Meduza that estimated 352,000 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 59 have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Norway opens talks on joining French nuclear deterrence initiative

Lucy Pakhnyuk — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:01:05 GMT

The move comes as European countries seek to strengthen regional defense cooperation amid growing uncertainty about U.S. security commitments.

Russian strike on Kherson playground kills father, injures family

Lucy Pakhnyuk — Wed, 27 May 2026 21:11:49 GMT

The injured included a 36-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages 3 and 6. The girls' father was also killed in the attack, police later confirmed.