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.
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.
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.
The survey, conducted between April 24 and May 4, shows that 56.9% of respondents would not be willing to compromise on either territorial integrity or Ukraine’s pro-Western direction in any potential talks with Moscow.
A house in Zaporizhzhia destroyed by Russians attacks during June 1 and June 2. (Source: Governor Yurii Malashko / Official Telegram channelú
Russian forces shelled 10 of Ukraine’s oblasts over the past day, officials reported on the morning of June 2.
At least four people were killed and 40 were injured due to the attacks.
Russia launched 15 cruise missiles and 21 Shahed kamikaze drones in a night attack against Kyiv Oblast. All of them were shot down by air defense, Ukraine's Air Force reported.
Debris from the destroyed aerial targets injured at least two people in the oblast, including a child.
"The adult was hospitalized and underwent surgery, there are no threats to his life," the governor said.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the victims are a 68-year-old man and an 11-year-old child.
Fallen debris caused damage to five private houses. Fires started in two of them but were later extinguished.
Several cars, a farm building, and an office building were also damaged.
The Russian shelling of Donetsk Oblast on June 1 killed at least three people and injured 12, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram.
According to Kyrylenko, the civilians were killed in attacks on Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar, and Vuhledar.
During the night, Russian forces shelled the city of Toretsk, damaging a school building that currently serves as a facility for providing humanitarian aid.
Kyrylenko noted this is not the first time that the school was hit.
Shelling also damaged 15 high-rise buildings, five private houses, and seven administrative buildings in Toretsk, injuring two people.
Russian shelling caused damage to residential and business property in a number of other villages and cities, including Novoukrainka, Kurakhivka, and Chasiv Yar.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Rusia launched 111 attacks against 22 villages and cities, killing one person and injuring two.
Air strikes hit Novodanylivka and Poltavka, while drones attacked Stepove and Kamianske, rockets struck Temyrivka, Chervona Krynytsia, Huliapole, Kamianske, and artillery shelled Huliapole, Orikhiv, Chervone, Stepnohirsk, Plavni, Malynivka, and other towns and villages.
One Russian projectile hit a residential building in Hulyaipole, killing a 68-year-old person.
In Plavni, a family was injured during the shelling – a 35-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman were taken to a medical facility.
In total, the governor reported 31 cases of property damage.
Russia used artillery and drones to attack Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring two people, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
On June 1, a 34-year-old man was injured in Marhanets, and a high-rise building, two private houses, and an infrastructure object were damaged in Nikopol.
In Sumy Oblast, Russian shelling injured one person, the Regional Military Administration reported.
On the day of June 1, Russia carried out 15 strikes with artillery and mortars in the oblast with 100 explosions recorded, targeting the communities of Bilopole, Velyka Pysarivka, Krasnopilia, Seredyna-Buda, and Yunakivka.
Over the night and the morning of June 2, Russia carried out 6 shellings, injuring one person in the Seredyna-Buda community.
In Kahrkiv Oblast, five people were injured in the strikes over the past day, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Russia shelled the city of Kharkiv, possibly with an S-300 missile system. A business building and a shop were damaged. A 63-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man were injured but did not require hospitalization.
During the day, Russia massively shelled Vovchansk in the Chuhuiiv district. A shop, a fire department building, and residential buildings were damaged, injuring three people.
In Luhansk Oblast, Russian air strikes targeted Serhiivka and Bilohorivka, while Noveoselivske, Nevske, and again Bilohorivka were attacked 94 times by artillery, Governor Artem Lysohor reported.
In Mykolaiv Oblast, the Ochakiv district suffered artillery strikes, and a Shahed drone was shot down in the oblast overnight.
Russia carried out 81 strikes against Kherson Oblast, using artillery, mortars, GRAD missiles, anti-tank missiles, drones, and aviation.
According to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, Russia targeted mainly residential areas and buildings of critical infrastructure in the Kherson and Beryslav districts, injuring 16 people.
Chernihiv Oblastsuffered 10 attacks by mortars, artillery, and anti-aircraft systems in the Novhorod-Siversky, Koriukiv, and Chernihiv districts.
During the night, Russian forces conducted an airstrike using helicopters and unguided aerial missiles in the oblast.
Five houses and five farm buildings burned down but there were no casualties.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Martin Fornusek
