Ukrainian strikes have left fires burning at the Tuapse refinery and oil slicks along the Black Sea coast ahead of Russia's tourist season.

The Russian leader voiced readiness to declare a truce in Ukraine for the Victory Day celebrations, which Russia holds on May 9, the Kremlin said.

Key developments on April 29: * Russian helicopters struck in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, Ukraine's elite drone unit says * Ukraine hits Russia's 'shadow fleet' oil tanker near Tuapse, General Staff says * Ukraine confirms drone strikes on Russian air defense system, oil depot in occupied Crimea * Belarus bars Russian conscripts from leaving country Ukrainian drones struck two Russian helicopters in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the front line, Ukraine's

The strike hit two Russian helicopters during rapid refueling and technical checks, the drone unit said.

Ukraine said it struck Russian air defense and logistics targets in occupied Crimea, including an oil depot in Simferopol and radar systems in Sevastopol.

Russian citizens are prohibited from leaving the country after receiving a draft notice. According to the report, Belarus and Russia share conscription bases, so the Belarusian security services have access to them and can detain a person if they are in the base.

Timur Mindich, the alleged ringleader of a major corruption case, reportedly lobbied for the interests of Ukraine's missile and drone maker — Fire Point — in a conversation with then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Ukrainska Pravda obtained a transcript of the talks allegedly held between Mindich and a number of current and former officials, publishing the records on April 28. The first part of what Ukrainska Pravda said would be a series, including three conversatio

Reform progress has slowed amid the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion and gridlock in Ukraine's parliament, delaying billions of dollars, which are conditional on Kyiv implementing the changes.

Semen Kryvonos, the chief of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, breaks down Ukraine’s most high-profile corruption investigations.

The final vote is expected to happen at a meeting of EU economy ministers on May 5.

Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first name and call sign only. DONETSK OBLAST - "The Russians have the task of starting the occupation of Sloviansk in the summer." The words of Dmytro "Lifecell" come without drama, panic, or mockery. But on the cusp of what could be one of the most decisive summer campaigns in one of the most important sectors of the front line in Ukraine's far eastern Donbas

Japanese drone firm Terra Drone has announced a second major investment in a Ukrainian defense tech company, as Japan increases support for its defense sector. During a presentation in Japan on April 28, CEO Toru Tokushige announced a partnership with Ukrainian firm WinnyLab to scale the Terra A2, a long-range fixed-wing interceptor drone. The investment comes a week after Japan lifted a ban on weapons exports put in place following the Second World War. Following the historic move, Japanese p

A Ukrainian electronic warfare project says it has stopped 58 of 59 Russian Kinzhal missiles from reaching their targets.

The announcement came amid an escalating diplomatic spat, with Kyiv saying Israel has ignored appeals to prevent goods stolen by Russia from reaching Israeli ports.

Ukraine says it shut down an arms trafficking network that funneled weapons from occupied territories and Slovakia to pro-Russian figures, including Steven Seagal and Kim Jong-un, with some distributed as "prizes."

Tuapse has faced intensified strikes in recent days, including strikes on an oil refinery on April 20 and April 16, leaving multi-day fires burning in the Russian town.

According to the report, the tanker MARQUISE was struck by two kamikaze drones launched by a Ukrainian Navy unit.

Russia's Defense Ministry reported on April 29 that its air defense intercepted 98 Ukrainian drones.

Drone software provider Swarmer, telecoms giant Kyivstar, and iron ore producer Ferrexpo were added to the Ukraine Reconstruction Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on April 29, creator of the fund HANetf said in a press release.

Russia launched 171 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.

The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

While serving as a symbolic head of state, British monarchs have regularly exercised so-called "soft power" to espouse foreign policy priorities through measured or coded language during their foreign visits.

According to Ukraine's HUR, Russia will focus its recruitment efforts on Central Asian countries, as well as developing countries in Asia and Africa.

Russia's annual May 9 Victory Day parade will not include the traditional column of military vehicles, officials said, citing the "current operational situation."

Julie Davis, who has served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for nearly a year, is expected to depart in June 2026, leaving a key diplomatic post vacant at a critical moment.

A documentary by The Kyiv Independent about Ukrainian military medics working on the front lines of Russia’s war will have its Australian premiere in Sydney on May 7, 2026.h

Lawmaker Inna Sovsun said that Ukrainians have long moved beyond "Soviet-era" concepts of patriarchal family life, which are echoed in the proposed version of the Civil Code.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), has revealed details of a new Russian air-launched cruise missile, the S-71K "Kovyor," offering a closer look at its design and production. On its War&Sanctions portal, the agency published a 3D model of the missile, along with a breakdown of its components. Two major takeaways are the missile's reliance on foreign-made electronics and its relatively simple construction. According to HUR, the missile was developed by Russia's United Aircraft Corporation a

Key developments on April 27: * Russia's Tuapse oil refinery disaster deepens after Ukraine's drones strike yet again * At least 2 people injured in Kyiv as daytime Russian drone attack hits building, cemetery grounds * Zelensky slams Israel for buying stolen Ukrainian grain, says Kyiv prepares sanctions * Russian Iskander missile storage facility in occupied Crimea hit, Ukraine's Special Forces release video Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in the southern Russian city of Tuapse in

From the base, Iskander missiles could reach the front lines or rear Ukrainian cities "in a matter of minutes," Special Operations Forces said.

"The chatbot will be completely reorganized in the near future," the Yellow Ribbon wrote.

A Kyiv court has authorized a pretrial investigation into wanted oligarch Kostyantyn Zhevago, just days before his mining company is set to be suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange. Zhevago, who owns the London-listed iron ore producer Ferrexpo, is suspected of running an embezzlement scheme involving $113 million through his now-defunct bank, Finance & Credit Bank, between 2007 and 2015. The Pechersk Court greenlit the investigation request from Ukraine's Prosecutor General’s Of