Air Force reports 6 Iranian drones shot down overnight

10:33 AM

Taurus missiles for Ukraine 'within the realm of possibility,' Germany's Merz says.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 28 that a potential delivery of Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine is not being ruled out, but did not provide further details.

10:04 AM

Stavropol explosion kills Russian official who led attacks on Ukraine's Mariupol.

Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed Zaur Gurtsyev’s death, describing it as a "nighttime incident on Chekhov Street" without providing further details.

9:51 AM

Durov announces Telegram's partnership with Musk's xAI, who says no deal signed yet.

Telegram and Elon Musk's xAI will enter a one-year partnership, integrating the Grok chatbot into the messaging app, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced. Elon Musk said that "no deal has been signed" yet.

9:28 AM

US court blocks most of Trump's tariffs, rules he exceeded authority.

The court struck down the 10% tariffs applied to all U.S. trading partners to address the trade deficit. This means that the court would also block tariffs on trade with Ukraine.

8:49 AM

Elon Musk announces exit from US government role.

"The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government," Elon Musk wrote on his social platform X.

8:11 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 983,890 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:41 AM

Russia to deploy Oreshnik missile systems to Belarus by end of 2025, official says.

Moscow is planning to deploy multiple Oreshnik missile systems to Belarus by the end of 2025, State Secretary of Belarus' Security Council Alexander Volfovich said on May 28.

6:38 AM

Moscow building damaged in Ukrainian drone attack, mayor claims after 2nd day of attacks.

A building was reportedly damaged on the outskirts of Moscow following a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian capital overnight on May 29, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported.

5:47 AM

Electronics plant in St Petersburg on fire following explosions, local officials report.

An Avangard electronics plant reportedly caught fire in the Russian city of St. Petersburg following a series of explosions, local Telegram channels and officials reported overnight on May 29.

4:45 AM

Remaining Voice of America employees expected to receive termination notice this week, Politico reports.

A senior VOA employee told Politico that USAGM-led layoffs would likely affect all staff, effectively shuttering operations. Earlier this month on May 15, about 600 contractors working for VOA received termination notices.

3:46 AM

Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says.

The confirmed statistic, which includes multiple units who fought to defend the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, comes amid social media outcry criticizing Ukrainian authorities for failing to return certain captives, including Azov fighters, during the war's largest 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange

5:18 PM  (Updated:  May 29, 2025 3:12 am)

Germany pledges 5 billion euros in new aid to Ukraine, no Taurus missiles announced.

The agreement includes direct German investments in Ukraine's defense industry and a broader treaty between Kyiv and German arms manufacturers.

1:55 AM

UN commission says Russian drone attacks against Kherson amount to crimes against humanity.

From July 2024, nearly 150 civilians have been killed and hundreds more wounded in drone strikes on Kherson city and 16 surrounding localities, according to the United Nation's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

12:10 AM

Trump holds off on sanctions to push Ukraine-Russia peace efforts.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 28 that he has not yet imposed new sanctions on Russia because he believes a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine may be within reach.

10:26 PM

Ukraine sends ceasefire memo, urges Russia to respond ahead of June 2 peace talks, Umerov says.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on May 28 that Kyiv is still awaiting the Russian side’s proposed ceasefire memorandum, which was expected following peace talks in Turkey earlier this month.

10:01 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Moscow proposes next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on June 2 in Istanbul

7:40 PM  (Updated:  May 28, 2025 9:51 pm)

Moscow proposes next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on June 2 in Istanbul.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the talks would be a continuation of negotiations launched in Istanbul on May 16.

9:45 PM

Turkey, Belgium to join drone coalition for Ukraine.

With the addition of Belgium and Turkey, the Drone Coalition will grow to 20 member states.

8:43 PM

11 more Ukrainian Children rescued from Russian-occupied territories, Yermak's advisor says.

Among those rescued is a young girl whose mother and brother, both defenders of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, spent more than three years in Russian captivity.

3:49 AM  (Updated:  May 28, 2025 8:37 pm)

Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war.

Dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses as they approached Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 28.

8:35 PM

'We'll know in two weeks' if Putin serious about ending war, Trump says.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he disapproved of Russia's recent missile attacks on Ukrainian cities during ongoing diplomatic efforts. "That's no good. We're not going to allow it," he said.

7:09 PM

EU announces new Black Sea security strategy to counter Russian threats, top diplomat says.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas proposed creating a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, envisioned as an early warning and monitoring system that would enhance situational awareness and protect key infrastructure.

6:52 PM

Russia proposed new date and location for peace talks with Ukraine, Medinsky says.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky claimed he personally called Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to suggest holding a meeting "in the coming days" to exchange draft memoranda outlining conditions for a potential ceasefire.

6:30 PM

NASA astronaut on Russian colleagues backing war against Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post sits down with retired U.S. astronaut Col. Terry W. Virts to discuss his time aboard the International Space Station alongside Russian colleagues in 2014–2015, during Russia’s annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine's eastern regions.

10:22 PM  (Updated:  May 28, 2025 6:22 pm)

Taurus missiles

If Germany sends Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Russia has a major Crimean Bridge problem