This week, the world watched in anticipation for Russia’s Victory Day parade after President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that he could not guarantee the safety of those attending. Meanwhile, the European Union moves one step forward to banning Russian gas from the European continent. It is also revealed this week that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fallen out of step with the White House.
"(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin... doesn't want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to this, immediately," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to to Antalya, Turkey, for a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting from May 14–16, where he is expected to address the war in Ukraine and push for stronger Allied defense commitments.
The Kremlin said the leaders held a detailed discussion about the Russian initiative and Erdogan expressed full support, reiterating Turkey’s readiness to provide a venue and assist in organizing the negotiations.
Erdogan told Macron that international cooperation is critical for initiating peace negotiations and the "sensitive implementation" of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction processes, the Turkish Presidency reported.
The assault began around 2 a.m. on May 11, with Russian forces deploying 108 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy UAVs from multiple directions, Ukraine’s Air Force said.
"Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end... I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens."
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce called for "concrete proposals from both sides" in order for Washington to "move forward" in peace negotiations.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka on Sept. 6, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Military Administration/Facebook)
Russian multi-weapon attacks against Ukraine killed 19 people and wounded 48 over the past 24 hours, damaging homes and civilian infrastructure, regional authorities reported.
A total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts were targeted — Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa, and Kharkiv. Casualties were reported only in the last five regions.
Russian drone hit the village of Odradokamianka in Kherson Oblast early on Sept. 7, leaving a 58-year-old man wounded, the regional administration said. A day before, Russia hit the region 68 times, damaging a factory in Kherson, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
Overnight on Sept. 7, Russian forces struck Odesa Oblast’s southern Izmail district with Iranian-made drones, damaging infrastructure and injuring one person, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.
Sixteen people have been confirmed killed and 33 wounded in the Russian Sept. 6 attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka, the regional police spokesperson said in the morning of Sept. 7. This number includes 15 killed and 22 injured civilians, according to the regional authorities.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka on Sept. 6, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Military Administration/Facebook)
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka on Sept. 6, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Military Administration/Facebook)
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka on Sept. 6, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Military Administration/Facebook)
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka on Sept. 6, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Military Administration/Facebook)
The attack hit a crowded market and damaged two apartment buildings, a pharmacy, and a bank, the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration said.
In the past day, Russian attacks reportedly killed two more people and wounded six in the regional settlements of Siversk, Novoukrainka, Toretsk, and Velyka Novosilka. Sixteen houses and an industrial building were damaged, the Donetsk Oblast authorities added.
The Russian military struck four districts in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring a 25-year-old man in a village near Kupiansk, according to the oblast governor.
The attacks damaged nine houses, garages, and outbuildings and caused a fire in a field, Oleh Synehuibov reported.
Russia’s military targeted 31 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, launching 99 strikes from various weapons, the regional administration reported. A 68-year-old man was killed, and six more people aged between 34 and 85 were wounded.
The Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration said it had received 40 reports on the damages to homes and civilian infrastructure.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
