New Kursk offensive and French-trained brigade scandal | Ukraine This Week

12:53 AM  (Updated:  May 24, 2025 6:19 pm)

'It's terrorism' — Russia launches one of the heaviest strikes on Kyiv during full-scale war.

Multiple people were injured as multiple waves of explosions rocked Kyiv overnight on May 24 during a massive Russian drone and missile attack.

6:03 PM

Poland's presidential debate: Trzaskowski slams Nawrocki over 'Putin's language' on Ukraine's NATO bid.

Karol Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, claimed President Volodymyr Zelensky "treats Poland badly" and defended his criticism of Ukraine's NATO bid by insisting, "I speak the language of Poles."

5:27 PM

Video

Inside Ukraine’s 1,000 for 1,000 POW swap with Russia.

On May 23, Ukraine and Russia began the largest prisoner exchange since 2014. Over three days, 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) from both sides will return home in a deal agreed upon during direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul earlier this month — the first such talks between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022. The Kyiv Independent went to the site of exchange.

5:07 PM

Russia's upgraded ballistic missiles harder to intercept by Patriots, Air Force says.

"It complicates (the interception), but doesn’t make the interception impossible," Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said. "I think our partners are already working to improve the system's capabilities."

3:35 PM

Ukraine hands over 70 collaborators to Russia in May 23 prisoner swap.

The identities of 31 of them have been revealed on the project's website. These included Oleksandr Tarnashinskyi, a former associate of pro-Kremlin oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, or ex-Security Service of Ukraine officer Vitalii Vasiliev.

3:18 PM

Lavrov dismisses Vatican as possible venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he believed "it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances."

1:49 PM  (Updated:  May 24, 2025 2:29 pm)

Ukraine brings home 307 POWs in 2nd phase of major prisoner swap with Russia.

Ukraine has secured the release of 307 Ukrainians from Russian captivity in the second phase of its largest prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 24.

1:45 PM

Russia 'hasn't faced enough pressure' —Ukrainian, foreign diplomats react to overnight attack on Kyiv.

"Russia's continued aggression has a simple explanation: it hasn't faced enough pressure to stop. The power to change that lies with us," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

1:27 PM

War analysis

Russia pushes forward in Donetsk Oblast, threatening Ukrainian pocket around Toretsk

12:44 PM

EU mulls cutting over 20 Russian banks from SWIFT, banning Nord Stream in new sanctions, Bloomberg reports.

The new measures under consideration would also include lowering the Group of Seven oil price cap on Russian crude exports from $60 to around $45 per barrel.

11:52 AM

Ukraine denies Russian presence in Sumy Oblast border village, media reports.

Earlier, Russia's state-run news agency TASS claimed that Russian forces had entered Yunakivka, a village near the Russian border in Sumy Oblast.

11:38 AM

13 killed, 51 receive medical care after Russian strikes on Ukraine over past day.

Russian attacks killed at least 13 civilians during attacks against Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities reported. At least 51 people required medical attention.

10:56 AM

'Shoot them on the spot' — Ukraine's military intel records over 150 cases of Russia executing POWs.

The agency noted that this figure includes those cases recorded by HUR, suggesting the actual total may be higher.

10:36 AM

UK probes possible Russian involvement in arson attacks targeting PM Starmer, FT reports.

Two Ukrainian nationals, Roman Lavrynovych and Petro Pochynok, and a Romanian national, Stanislav Carpiuc, have been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

10:23 AM

Russian chemical plant, missile parts manufacturer targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike.

The Energia facility, which lies in the Lipetsk Oblast city of Yelets, was attacked for the second night in a row, with residents reporting at least five explosions overnight, Astra reported.

9:24 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 979,830 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

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

7:10 AM

Pentagon may downgrade Ukraine-focused office amid policy restructure, media reports.

As part of a broader policy realignment, this office would be merged into the Pentagon's Europe and NATO office, reducing its prominence despite its critical role since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

4:56 AM

Russia’s top exporters slash rail shipments amid economic slowdown, Reuters reports.

A document seen by Reuters reveals that firms such as Rusal and Gazpromneft intend to reduce the volumes they plan to move by rail in 2025, prompting Russian Railways to slash spending by an additional 32.5 billion rubles ($408 million).

2:48 AM

EU to sanction Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Russia rejects Ukraine ceasefire, Bloomberg reports.

The EU is close to restricting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in a new round of sanctions as Russia refuses a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.

12:38 AM

Russian jets violate Finnish airspace, defense ministry says.

Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of violating Finland's airspace, the country's defense ministry reported on May 23.

11:39 PM

Ukraine would like Trump to attend potential Zelensky-Putin meeting, Sybiha says.

Ukraine would like U.S. President Donald Trump to be present at a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told journalists.

5:03 PM  (Updated:  May 23, 2025 11:20 pm)

Prisoner exchange

'It’s okay, Mom, I’m home' — Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap of the war

11:07 PM

EU to restore quotas on Ukrainian farm imports in June, Bloomberg reports.

The move marks a significant shift in EU trade policy toward Kyiv, as bloc members seek to balance wartime support for Ukraine with growing domestic unrest from European farmers.

11:01 PM

Ukraine, US officially launch joint Reconstruction Investment Fund.

"The last step was a diplomatic note from the United States, which I personally received this morning. The Fund is officially launched," Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on May 23.

10:25 PM

Controversial ex-official Portnov visited Ukraine days before being killed in Madrid, news outlet reports.

According to three Ukrainian Pravda's interlocutors with knowledge of Portnov's movements — including sources in law enforcement and his inner circle — he was in Ukraine on May 17-18 and reportedly met with top law enforcement officials.