Russia shells 2 communities in Sumy Oblast

12:08 AM

Latvia to allocate additional $11 million for Czech-led initiative to buy artillery shells for Ukraine.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said additional funds would allow the allies to buy over 3,000 rounds of 155 mm shells.

12:00 AM

War update

Ukraine war latest: 30,000 Russian troops involved in Kharkiv Oblast offensive, Ukrainian official says

11:44 PM

Putin signs decree officially appointing Belousov as new Russian defense minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on May 12 that Andrei Belousov, a former aide and Russia's economy minister from 2012-2013, should replace Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in a surprise reshuffle of Russia's security and defense apparatus.

11:27 PM

Ukraine introduces emergency power cuts throughout country amid 'significant' shortage.

Ukraine's state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo said it had to introduce additional restrictions due to the damage from the recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the increase in electricity consumption after the temperature drop.

11:12 PM

Russian air strikes on Kharkiv injure 21 people, including 3 children.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with the UMPB D-30 type of bombs, according to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office.

10:50 PM

Field report

48 hours in Kharkiv, Ukraine's most-bombed major city

10:17 PM

Blinken sings, plays guitar with local band in Kyiv.

Videos circulated on Instagram showed U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken singing and playing guitar along with other musicians onstage.

9:39 PM

Two volunteers in Vovchansk reported as missing, allegedly shot by Russian troops.

Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, wrote on Facebook that preliminary information indicates that the two could have been shot by the Russian military.

8:22 PM

Blinken emphasizes long-term US security commitment to Ukraine in visit to Kyiv.

"If Russia or anyone else were to attack Ukraine, we will work with Ukraine immediately at the highest levels to coordinate how to help you beat back the threat," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

7:10 PM

Poll: 50% of Ukrainians in Poland, Germany, Czechia, say they are 'less likely to return' to Ukraine.

The poll found that 66% of respondents said they were "completely" or "rather satisfied" with their lives in the countries.

6:11 PM

'We will never force Ukraine to accept peace treaty,' says UK defense secretary.

The comments follow reporting by the Sunday Times that U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron had allegedly personally pitched a peace plan to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

5:35 PM

Explaining Ukraine

Pereiaslav, the treaty that started modern Russo-Ukrainian history

4:51 PM

Kuleba says narrative that 'Ukraine rejected peace deal' is 'lie promoted by Russia.'

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia is intent on pushing this unsubstantiated narrative because it wants to "shift the blame for the war...to Ukraine."

4:42 PM

Ukraine state-owned enterprises weekly — Issue 131

4:09 PM

Designated Russian defense minister vows to further integrate economy, military.

Integrating the military with Russia's economy is a key task for its Defense Ministry, soon-to-be-appointed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov told the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, on May 14.

3:35 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 55

3:31 PM

Estonian defense minister: No new development on idea to send troops to Ukraine.

The Estonian government has held no specific discussions on sending the country's troops to Ukraine, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said on May 14, according to public broadcaster ERR.

2:58 PM

Georgian parliament passes 'foreign agents' bill in final reading.

Georgia's parliament on May 14 passed the controversial "foreign agents" bill in its third and final reading.

2:34 PM

Russian assault on Vovchansk kills 2 elderly civilians.

Russia's offensive on Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv Oblast killed two civilians aged 80 and 83, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 14.

2:25 PM

National Bank: Ukraine's losses from Polish blockade partially offset by maritime trade.

Losses caused by the Polish blockade of the Ukrainian border amounted to $500 million in lost imports and $160 million in exports in its first month, the National Bank of Ukraine said on May 14.

1:44 PM

Government appoints acting ministers of agriculture, infrastructure.

The Ukrainian government has appointed on May 14 Taras Vysotskyi and Vasyl Shkurakov as the acting agriculture and infrastructure ministers, respectively, Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in parliament, said.

1:40 PM

Over 7,500 civilians evacuated from northern Kharkiv Oblast.

Of the 7,531 people who have been evacuated so far, 568 are children, and 201 are people with disabilities, Syniehubov said.

1:35 PM

Budanov sees stabilization signs in Kharkiv Oblast hostilities.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov's statement came after he reportedly told the New York Times a day before that the situation in the region "was on the edge" and "moved toward critical every hour."

1:21 PM

EU Council approves Ukraine Plan needed for $54 billion support program.

The approval of the plan will allow the European Commission to disburse up to 1.89 billion euros ($2 billion) in an additional pre-financing tranche until the start of regular payments tied to the implementation of the reforms.

12:53 PM

Update: Death toll in Belgorod apartment building collapse reportedly rises to 16.

At least 16 people were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod after an apartment building collapsed on May 12, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry claimed on May 14.