Russia’s assault on Chasiv Yar and US aid freeze | Ukraine This Week

12:56 PM

Eastern Europe

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

12:32 PM

Russian tank losses in Ukraine — Syrski 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.

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.

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.

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.

4:39 PM

Defense tech

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

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.

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.