Russian parliament allows army to officially move into occupied Donbas.

6:04 AM

Military communications in Moscow Oblast sabotaged amid Russia's Victory Day celebrations, partisans claim.

The Atesh partisan group claims it disabled communication at several Russian military facilities when it allegedly destroyed equipment at a transformer substation in the village of Mogiltsy in Russia's Moscow Oblast.

4:36 AM

Bessent agrees Putin is a war criminal, but peace talks should continue, he says.

When asked if he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied, saying, "Yes."

1:53 AM

Vance says Russia 'asking for too much' in talks to end war.

"The Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on May 7, according to Politico.

11:50 PM

EU eyes new sanctions over Russian hybrid threats, chemical weapons use in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

EU ambassadors began talks this week on a 17th sanctions package that targets Russia’s military-industrial complex, Moscow’s shadow shipping fleet, and related support networks.

10:43 PM

Field report

'She fed all the birds, dogs, and cats' — 64-year-old animal rescue volunteer and son killed in Russian attack on Kyiv

9:47 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says

8:26 PM  (Updated:  May 7, 2025 9:29 pm)

Wave of drones target Moscow again, prompting further airport closures.

The repeated drone activity prompted renewed temporary airport closures across the region.

8:36 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 24.

8:15 PM

German Chancellor Merz plans visit to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the trip is currently being coordinated and emphasized that the European Union must do “everything possible” to help secure a lasting cessation of hostilities beyond the upcoming weekend.

7:22 PM

Azeri and Laotian leaders to skip Russia’s Victory Day parade, Kremlin says.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Laotian leader Thongloun Sisoulith will not attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

7:13 PM

14 killed, 54 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 187 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones and five Iskander-M ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

7:11 PM

Ukrainian drone strikes hit two Russian defense plants, grounding flights in Moscow, security service says.

The strikes, according to the SBU, triggered heightened alert measures across the Moscow Oblast, forcing Russian authorities to enact “Plan Cover,” a security protocol that includes grounding civilian air traffic.

6:48 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Making sense of the minerals deal

6:08 PM

Two volunteers die in Ukraine mine-clearing incident, including British aid worker Chris Garrett.

Garrett, 42, from the Isle of Man, was widely known for his high-risk volunteer work removing mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces.

5:59 PM

Video

How Putin weaponized WW2 and Victory Day, historian explains.

The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York discusses with Jonathan Brunstedt, associate professor of history at Texas A&M University, how Russian President Vladimir Putin has weaponized the Soviet myths about World War II to help him justify Russia’s war against Ukraine.

5:14 PM

Theater, drag shows, and art studios — Kharkiv’s cultural scene thrives, even in wartime (PHOTOS)

5:02 PM

Lithuania plans to build naval drones with Ukraine in joint effort.

Under a “1+1” model, Lithuania would fund the production of two drones, keeping one for its own defense and sending the other to Ukraine.

4:41 PM

Victory Day

Who's attending Moscow’s Victory Day parade? The Kremlin has published a guest list ahead of May 9

9:43 AM  (Updated:  May 7, 2025 4:36 pm)

Religion

From Ukraine envoy to Orban's ally: Meet the top candidates for the papal throne

4:24 PM

Putin, Xi to discuss delayed 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline during Victory Day celebrations, Bloomberg reports.

Construction of the pipeline was scheduled to begin in 2024, but has been plagued with construction issues and diplomatic tussles.

12:49 PM  (Updated:  May 7, 2025 4:12 pm)

Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow disrupt air travel for 60,000 passengers in Russia.

The disruption comes days before Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9, one of the country's largest public events and a key propaganda tool for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2:52 PM

'No new instructions' — Putin's unilateral Victory Day ceasefire takes effect May 8, Kremlin says.

The so-called "humanitarian" truce will run from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11.

2:06 PM

Kremlin cites 'dangerous neighbors' as reason for internet restrictions before Victory Day.

"These are not disruptions, but restrictions for obvious reasons. We want the glorious Victory Day to be celebrated at the appropriate level," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

1:22 PM

Ukrainian drones reportedly hit Russian fiber optic plant in Saransk.

"The fiber optic systems plant in Saransk was very seriously damaged after the strike," Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on May 7.

12:04 PM

Kellogg says Ukraine proposed 30-km demilitarized buffer zone, admits Putin main obstacle to ceasefire.

U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg described the proposal as a buffer zone with both sides pulling back 15 kilometers, creating a 30-kilometer area monitored by observers from third countries.