Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed their countries' relationship on May 8, vowing to increase cooperation in all areas, including military ties.
"There is Turkey, which maintains channels of communication. And then, above all, there is the People's Republic of China, which, more than anyone else, has the means to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin come to the negotiating table and soften his demands," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on May 8.
The United States will be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on May 8.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
US President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed his hope for "an acceptable ceasefire," with both countries "held accountable for respecting the sanctity of... direct negotiations."
President Volodymyr Zelensky had a "constructive" phone call with United States President Donald Trump on May 8, discussing the war, continued pressure on Russia, and a potential ceasefire.
Russian actor Dmitry Dyuzhev, who will portray U.S. President Joe Biden in an upcoming sitcom, at the 44th Moscow International Film Festival on Aug. 26, 2022, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images)
The Russian TV network TNT will create a sitcom portraying U.S. President Joe Biden moving to Russia incognito, the network announced on Aug. 27.
According to the preliminary details about the show, named "Goodbye," an undercover "Biden" moves to Russia to investigate why Western sanctions are unsuccessful. After losing his documents, Biden is forced to become an English teacher to save up money and eventually return to the U.S.
During the course of his adventures, Biden will also attempt to understand the "Russian soul," the press release said.
Biden will be played by Russian actor Dmitry Dyuzhev, best known for his role in the 1990s cult miniseries Brigada about the Russian mafia.
"I myself am very curious to see what will come out of our bold experiment and whether the audience will be able to immediately recognize me in Biden and Biden in me," Dyuzhev told the TV Mag media outlet.
The show's creator, Alexander Baldin, said that the "project is definitely a comedy with elements of satire."
"We wanted to create a story that not only entertains but also makes you think about the relations between Russia and America, showing them through the prism of humor and absurdity."
It is not the first time that Russian media, typically state-run or at least state-controlled, has used entertainment to further political messaging goals.
Earlier in 2024, investigative journalists acquired documents collectively known as the "Kremlin Leaks," which revealed links between Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration and a variety of pop culture projects that — subtly or unsubtly — contain popular Kremlin talking points.
While the funding for the Biden show "Goodbye" is unclear, the network TNT is owned by Gazprom Media, which is a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom.
The Russian TV channel NTV, also owned by Gazprom Media, ran a skit in 2020 featuring an actor in blackface as former U.S. President Barack Obama, which was widely criticized for its usage of racist tropes.
The film, which was panned critically and a flop at the box office, depicts a budding romance that takes place amid the construction of the Crimean Bridge, which was illegally constructed following Russia's unlawful annexation of Crimea to connect the Russian mainland with Kerch, a city on the far eastern tip of the Crimean peninsula.
Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Kateryna Denisova
