More than 140 strikes on Ukrainian front-line positions had been recorded by 7 a.m. local time, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia will celebrate Victory Day on May 9 — the most sacred date in its political calendar and the centerpiece of a state-built cult of war. Over more than two decades of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule, the Soviet memory of World War II has moved far beyond commemoration, with its complexities and crimes erased in favor of a simplified, heroic narrative that has also been weaponized — the Kremlin has used the language of World War II to frame its enemies, above all Ukraine, as "Nazis,
This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin. Key news as of May 9: * Ahead of Victory Day new wave of house evictions in Mariupol began * 'More to come' — Azov Corps drones strike Russian logistics in Mariupol in new footage * Ukraine condemns 'alarming situation' in Russian-occupied Oleshky, civilians trapped in urgent need of aid * R
A handful of foreign attendants of the scaled-back 2026 parade included Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Magyar's Tisza party resoundingly defeated Orban's Fidesz in the parliamentary elections on April 12, pledging a pivot away from Budapest's pro-Moscow direction and a mend in ties with the EU.
A greatest hits compilation of Russia's most modern military hardware was shown on a video displayed on screens at the event.
The declaration issued by President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 8 made a good case for the election of comedians to higher office: I hereby decree: 1. To authorize the holding of a parade in Moscow (Russian Federation) on May 9, 2026. For the duration of the parade (beginning at 10:00 a.m. Kyiv time on May 9, 2026), the area of Red Square shall be excluded from the plan for the use of Ukrainian weapons. Humor is an underrated weapon in the arsenal against fascism. Zelensky, former professional
Since mid-April, Ukraine has struck the Tuapse oil terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast four times, triggering major fires at one of the country's key oil export hubs despite active air defenses and repeated Russian claims of intercepted drones. The attacks have caused days-long fires, halted refinery operations, polluted parts of the coastline, and forced authorities into prolonged emergency response efforts. This raises a question: If Russia maintains one of the largest air defense networks
