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6:50 PM

Ukraine is sending the war back to Russia — just in time for Victory Day

Over the past days, Moscow's grand avenues, like every year in early May, were taken over by the growling of 80-year-old tanks and the smell of gasoline burned by military vehicles. To the delight of many locals, soldiers marched in multiple rehearsals for the May 9 Victory Day Parade in

6:33 PM

Two killed in Kyiv suburb shooting over illegal arms deal.

The shooting occurred around 3:22 p.m. local time in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a residential area in Bucha district, according to the Kyiv regional police.

6:18 PM

European Parliament passes resolution demanding return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

Lawmakers urged the EU and its member states to step up efforts to hold Moscow accountable through international courts and support for Ukraine’s campaign to bring its children home.

What Putin won’t tell you about Russia’s ‘Victory Day’

5:52 PM

Video

What Putin won’t tell you about Russia’s ‘Victory Day.’

The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York sat down with author, historian, and Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, which mark the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, are one of the country’s biggest public events of the year. President of the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland Andrej Lushnycky who sheds some light on the things Putin would rather you didn’t know about World War II.

5:24 PM

US, Russia discuss potential revival of Russian gas exports to Europe, Reuters reports.

Washington’s involvement may also help mitigate political opposition in Europe, while giving the U.S. strategic visibility over future Russian energy flows, sources told Reuters.

4:26 PM

EU provides Ukraine with $1 billion tranche under G7 loan covered by Russian assets.

This is the fourth such tranche from the bloc, which is secured by proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

3:38 PM

Photos

‘I’m not fine:’ Intimate scenes of life during war (PHOTOS)

An abandoned bed that often remains empty until morning as its usual occupants seek shelter during Russian attacks. A backpack with essentials to take along during each air raid. A family hug during a blackout, when a flashlight brings out the invisible on a mother’s face in daylight. After

3:19 PM

Russia's ballistic missiles make April deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since last fall, UN reports.

At least 19 children were killed and 78 injured in April, the highest verified monthly number of child casualties since June 2022.

2:31 PM

Ukraine's parliament ratifies minerals deal between Washington, Kyiv.

The agreement, signed on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund between Kyiv and Washington and grants the U.S. special access to projects developing Ukraine's natural resources.

2:09 PM

Russian attacks kill, injure Ukrainian civilians despite Putin's Victory Day 'ceasefire'.

Three women in Kharkiv, believing the truce was in effect, were injured by a Russian drone while gardening.

2:07 PM

Existing EBRD funds not enough to restore Chornobyl Nuclear Plant confinement after Russian attack, the Guardian reports.

Russian forces struck the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant with a drone on Feb. 14, breaking through the confinement and creating a 15-meter hole in it.

1:12 PM

Lithuanian parliament backs denunciation of anti-personnel mine ban convention.

The denunciation of the convention will take effect six months after the decision is made.

‘Clearly, Ukraine is holding cards’ — political economist on why US pressure won’t force Kyiv to concede

12:42 PM

Business

‘Clearly, Ukraine is holding cards’ — political economist on why US pressure won’t force Kyiv to concede

If Ukraine’s military resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion stunned the world, its economic resilience in the face of a larger, better-equipped enemy is a lesser-known story of the war. A combination of rapid state expansion, prudent monetary policy, active civil society in Ukraine, and crucial external funding from

10:52 AM

China's Xi arrives in Moscow ahead of Russia's Victory Day parade, meets with Putin.

Xi Jinping is one of 27 leaders expected to attend the Victory Day parade in the Russian capital on May 9.

9:53 AM

Russia has damaged, destroyed over 2,300 medical infrastructure facilities since beginning of full-scale invasion, health ministry says.

Some 2020 medical facilities were partially damaged, while another 305 were completely destroyed, the ministry's statement read.

8:27 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 961,970 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,200 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:53 AM

Ukraine can rely on Europe, new German FM Wadephul says.

"Everyone in Moscow must know that they have to reckon with us. Europe will support Ukraine," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said.

6:58 AM

Ukraine considers moving closer to euro rather than dollar, Reuters reports.

Ukraine is considering moving away from the U.S. dollar and closer to the euro as a benchmark for the hryvnia, National Bank Governor Andrii Pyshnyi told Reuters.

6:04 AM

Military communications in Moscow Oblast sabotaged amid Russia's Victory Day celebrations, partisans claim.

The Atesh partisan group claims it disabled communication at several Russian military facilities when it allegedly destroyed equipment at a transformer substation in the village of Mogiltsy in Russia's Moscow Oblast.

4:36 AM

Bessent agrees Putin is a war criminal, but peace talks should continue, he says.

When asked if he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied, saying, "Yes."

1:53 AM

Vance says Russia 'asking for too much' in talks to end war.

"The Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on May 7, according to Politico.

11:50 PM

EU eyes new sanctions over Russian hybrid threats, chemical weapons use in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

EU ambassadors began talks this week on a 17th sanctions package that targets Russia’s military-industrial complex, Moscow’s shadow shipping fleet, and related support networks.

'She fed all the birds, dogs, and cats' — 64-year-old animal rescue volunteer and son killed in Russian attack on Kyiv

10:43 PM

Field report

'She fed all the birds, dogs, and cats' — 64-year-old animal rescue volunteer and son killed in Russian attack on Kyiv

Serhii Mandryk was on a call with acquaintances in Canada in the early hours of May 7. An air raid alert had sounded in Kyiv a few hours earlier but he decided to stay at home and go ahead with it rather than head for a shelter. He assured everyone

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says

9:47 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says

Key developments on May 7: * Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says * Kellogg says Ukraine proposed 30-km demilitarized buffer zone, admits Putin main obstacle to ceasefire * Two volunteers die in Ukraine mine-clearing incident, including British aid worker Chris Garrett * Ukrainian drones reportedly

Wave of drones target Moscow again, prompting further airport closures

8:26 PM

(Updated: May 7, 2025 9:29 pm)

Wave of drones target Moscow again, prompting further airport closures.

The repeated drone activity prompted renewed temporary airport closures across the region.

8:36 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 24.

Editor’s note: This is issue 24 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from April 28–May 4, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks

8:15 PM

German Chancellor Merz plans visit to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the trip is currently being coordinated and emphasized that the European Union must do “everything possible” to help secure a lasting cessation of hostilities beyond the upcoming weekend.

7:22 PM

Azeri and Laotian leaders to skip Russia’s Victory Day parade, Kremlin says.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Laotian leader Thongloun Sisoulith will not attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

7:13 PM

14 killed, 54 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 187 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones and five Iskander-M ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

7:11 PM

Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says.

The strikes, according to the SBU, triggered heightened alert measures across the Moscow Oblast, forcing Russian authorities to enact “Plan Cover,” a security protocol that includes grounding civilian air traffic.

6:48 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Making sense of the minerals deal

The following is the May 6, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. As I’m sure you saw, the U.S. and Ukraine finally signed the minerals agreement after months

6:08 PM

Two volunteers die in Ukraine mine-clearing incident, including British aid worker Chris Garrett.

Garrett, 42, from the Isle of Man, was widely known for his high-risk volunteer work removing mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces.

News Feed

4:28 PM

Business

Ukraine’s minerals fund focus of private investment ahead of major recovery conference

4:17 PM

Opinion

Seeing war through the lens of narcissism

3:58 PM

Ukraine sanctions 5 Chinese firms for supplying components used in Russian drones.

The decree follows a publication by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), which said it recovered Chinese-made parts from downed Shahed drones during a July 4 air assault on Kyiv.

3:52 PM

Opinion

How to enter Ukraine’s defense market: A short guide for foreign companies

3:27 PM

Interview

'Some are forged into poets during hostilities' — Medic, former POW, and poet on how war is shaping Ukraine's writers

3:16 PM

Putin signs decree allowing foreigners to serve in Russian army during mobilization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization decree from Sept. 21, 2022, remains in force and has never been formally rescinded.

3:12 PM

'Torture was not just cruel, it was inhuman' — Ukrainian soldier dies weeks after release from Russian captivity.

Soldier Valery Zelensky had spent 39 months in Russian captivity. Just 22 days later, on June 16, his heart stopped.

2:18 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 3:08 pm)

Europe's largest port prepares for NATO arms shipments, potential war with Russia.

Rotterdam has previously handled weapons shipments, but this marks the first time that it will designate a special berth for military use.

9:56 AM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 3:03 pm)

Russia's Black Sea Fleet shrinks presence in key Crimean bay, Ukrainian partisans say.

The remaining combat units are periodically rotated and redeployed in an apparent effort to avoid detection by Ukrainian reconnaissance, the Atesh partisan group said.

1:33 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 1:34 pm)

Ukraine's ambassador to the US to be dismissed, source says.

Oksana Markarova has held the post since April 2021.

7:45 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 1:30 pm)

Minerals

Exclusive: Ukraine pitches US modernizes its largest oil refinery as part of minerals deal

12:27 PM

Overcoming Slovakia, Hungary opposition, EU set to approve new Russia sanctions package this week, Ukrainian official says.

In late June, EU ambassadors did not approve the sanctions package because of objections from Budapest and Bratislava.

11:13 AM

9 killed, 81 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 54 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, and fired four S-300/400 guided missiles.

11:02 AM

On 1-year anniversary, Ukraine names Russian officer linked to deadly strike on Kyiv Okhmatdyt children's hospital.

The strike, which killed two adults and injured at least 34 people, directly hit the country's largest pediatric medical center, where 627 children were receiving treatment at the time.

4:15 AM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 9:23 am)

'They have to be able to defend themselves' — Trump says US will send additional weapons shipments to Ukraine, criticizes Putin.

"They're getting hit very hard. We're gonna have to send more weapons, your defensive weapons primarily," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

9:19 AM

Trump reportedly told Zelensky he's not responsible for US arms halt to Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump told President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call on July 4 that he was not responsible for the suspension of U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

8:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,028,610 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,070 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:56 AM

EU to impose 'toughest' sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says.

"This (war) cannot continue; it must stop. To achieve this, in coordination with American senators, Europe is preparing to introduce, based on French proposals, the toughest sanctions we have imposed in the last three years," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

6:25 AM

Kellogg, Umerov set to meet, discuss resumption of US military aid to Ukraine, Politico reports.

Following the talks between U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Rome, Politico reported that more meetings are set to take place in Kyiv over the next two weeks.

2:53 AM

Russia jails former top general for 17 years in massive military graft case.

Colonel General Khalil Arslanov, a former head of the Russian military's communications unit, served as deputy chief of the army's General Staff from 2013 until his removal in 2020.

12:47 AM

Russia fails to meet OPEC+ oil production target in June, Bloomberg reports.

Historically, Russia, which co-leads the OPEC+ alliance with Saudi Arabia, has faced criticism for poor compliance with production quotas.

6:44 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 12:20 am)

Russia strikes conscription offices in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, injuring dozens, Ukraine says.

Two districts of Kharkiv came under attack that same day, in which one woman was killed and over 80 people, including eight children, were reported injured or suffered shock in Kharkiv, according to the local prosecutor's office.

10:32 PM

UK sanctions Russian officials and lab over chemical weapons use in Ukraine.

According to the updated sanctions list published on the U.K. government's official website, the new measures target Russia's Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry, as well as Lieutenant General Alexei Rtishchev, head of Russia's Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, and his deputy, Andrei Marchenko.

10:27 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian airports cancel nearly 300 flights amid drone attacks on Russia

8:59 PM

EBRD to unlock $1 billion in credit for Ukraine's key sectors, considers mineral projects.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will enable Ukrainian banks to provide up to 900 million euros ($1.05 billion) in new loans by sharing credit risks.

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