Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
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.
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.
Fragments of the Iranian drone Shahed-136 (Russia named Geran 2), displayed in Kyiv on Aug. 24, 2023. (Aleksandr Gusev/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Satellite imagery shows that a Russian factory that will build Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones is progressing, the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) reported on Nov. 13.
A satellite image from Sept. 15 shows that construction of the plant in Tatarstan directly correlates to leaked plans that the Washington Post published together with ISIS in August.
The plant has expanded to house motor test cells, an outer wall for security, and checkpoints.
The ongoing construction is "consistent with the main timeline revealed in internal documents," the think tank said.
The site is currently being used for assembling drone components provided by Iran, but will be able to transition to make essential components for the drones on site from 2024 onward.
These include navigation components, the drone's engine, and the propeller.
ISIS expects monthly drone production to increase to up to 226 drones per month in 2024, "for a total of 6,000 drones produced by September 2025."
Russia will then have the ability to regularly attack Ukraine with hundreds of "kamikaze" drones at a time.
The plans of the manufacturing company Alabuga Joint Stock Company involve "not only adopting Iranian production processes but improving and streamlining them, and ultimately advancing the drone’s capabilities," the think tank said.
The company is not yet covered by western sanctions, the think tank noted. The Russian state holds 66% of the company's shares, while the rest are held by Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.
"A key, overdue first step is for the United States and its allies to sanction JSC Alabuga and its associated companies."
Russia often launches "kamikaze" Shahed-type drones at night to exhaust and detect Ukrainian air defense to then fire missiles from its aircraft or missile carriers.
Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.
Francis Farrell
