Pope Francis finally criticizes Putin over invasion of Ukraine.

5:36 AM

Polish judge defects to Belarus.

Tomasz Szmydt, a judge of the provincial administrative court in Warsaw, left Poland for Belarus and said he intends to apply for political asylum due to his "disagreement" with the Polish government's policies.

4:29 AM

Reuters: Tuapse refinery hit by drone resumes work after 3 months of repairs.

Rosneft's Tuapse oil refinery has resumed processing after sustaining damage from a drone strike in January. Repairs were reportedly completed at the facility's primary oil refining unit at the end of April.

3:55 AM

Reuters: US, most EU nations abstain from attending Putin's inauguration.

The United States and the majority of European Union nations will not attend the Kremlin ceremony for Vladimir Putin's inauguration for another six-year presidential term on May 7.

2:29 AM

Russian dissident Kara-Murza wins Pulitzer Prize for commentary.

Jailed Russian journalist and opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Washington Post contributing columnist, has won the Pulitzer Prize for the commentary he has been writing from his prison cell.

1:27 AM

Russia attacks 11 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces struck 11 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 31 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on May 6. The regional administration confirmed that the Russian attack on the Krasnopillia community earlier in the day injured three people.

11:58 PM

Yermak: Ukraine aims to finalize security agreement with US in May.

A Ukrainian delegation led by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak held the fourth round of negotiations with the U.S. on the future bilateral security agreement on May 6, the Presidential Office reported.

11:54 PM

US soldier travels to Russia, arrested on suspicion of theft.

Russia is currently holding a number of U.S. nationals on what are widely believed to be trumped up charges.

11:42 PM

EU Commission to end years-long rule-of-law procedure against Poland.

The EU's executive arm launched the sanctions procedure, which can lead to the suspension of certain rights, in 2017 against the Polish government at the time led by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.

11:22 PM

Media: Xi backs global Olympic truce after Macron's proposal.

Chinese President Xi Jinping supported on May 6 the idea of a global truce during the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, Le Monde reported.

11:07 PM

Chechnya

Is Chechnya preparing for Kadyrov's demise — and what could come next?

11:00 PM

US denounces Russia's 'irresponsible rhetoric' over nuclear drills.

"This is an example of the kind of irresponsible rhetoric that we've seen from Russia in the past. It's completely inappropriate given the current security situation," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder told reporters.

10:46 PM

Media: Russia no longer using Crimean Bridge to supply front lines.

The bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, and has long been a crucial supply route for the Russian military in Ukraine.

10:24 PM

US representatives not to attend Putin's inauguration.

U.S. representatives will not attend Vladimir Putin's inauguration on May 7, but Washington recognizes him as Russia's president, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on May 6.

10:11 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian Mangust-class vessel destroyed in Crimea, military intelligence says.

9:56 PM

Military spokesperson denies reports of destroying bridge near Chasiv Yar.

Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, also said Russian forces are unlikely to capture the embattled town of Chasiv Yar as they do not have enough strength for a full-scale offensive.

9:27 PM

Spanish defense minister: Ukraine receives Patriot missiles from Madrid.

Ukraine received Patriot anti-aircraft missiles from Madrid, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on May 6, according to EFE news agency.

9:23 PM

Business association CEO Club says it was searched, complains of smear campaign.

CEO Club Ukraine, a club of Ukrainian business leaders, said on May 6 that its premises were searched by the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) in April and linked it to a supposed smear campaign against the club.

8:28 PM

Netherlands plans to begin F-16 aircraft deliveries to Ukraine in autumn.

The Netherlands plans to start delivering its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this autumn after Denmark begins transferring its aircraft already in the summer, Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren said during a press briefing in Vilnius, Delfi reported on May 6.

8:16 PM

Prosecutors: Russian airstrike on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast injures 4.

Russian troops carried out an airstrike on the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on May 6, injuring four people, the regional Prosecutor's Office reported.

8:12 PM

Bloomberg: EU plans to ban Russian funding for political parties, think tanks.

According to Bloomberg, the ban on Russian funding could impact far-right parties in Europe such as Germany's AfD and France's National Rally, both of which have previously been accused of links to Russia.

8:05 PM

Politico: Poland has a secret weapon to turn Donald Trump against Russia.

“Duda is our Republican whisperer,” Michał Baranowski, who leads the German Marshall Fund’s Poland office, told Politico.

7:54 PM

Foreign Ministry calls on allies not to recognize Putin as Russia's legitimate president.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged on May 6 other countries and international organizations not to recognize the results of Russia's most recent presidential election, as well as Vladimir Putin's legitimacy ahead of the inauguration.

7:44 PM

Russia threatens UK military installations, equipment 'in Ukraine and abroad' after Cameron's remarks.

Moscow can hit back at "any British military installations and equipment in or outside Ukraine" if Ukraine strikes on Russian territory with U.K.-made weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed on May 6.

7:38 PM

Elections

Zelensky’s term would have expired this month, but he’s staying. Russia wants to use it

7:27 PM

Von der Leyen after meeting Xi: 'More effort needed' to curtail Chinese dual-use goods deliveries to Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Paris on May 6 to discuss Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, trade issues, and the Middle East.