The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
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."
A general view of the EuroMaidan rally in Kyiv on November 24, 2013. When ousted president Viktor Yanukovych defied the popular will and refused to sign a promised association agreement with the European Union, people rose up in the EuroMaidan Revolution YAROSLAV DEBELYI/AFP via Getty Images
The investigation into the killing of EuroMaidan protesters in Kyiv in February 2014 has been completed and former President Viktor Yanukovych has been formally charged with a range of crimes including murder, the General Prosecutor's Office announced on Oct. 4.
Other former high-ranking officials have also been charged, including the ex-internal affairs minister and his deputy, the ex-head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the ex-defense minister, and the ex-commander of the Berkut riot police division, the State Bureau of Investigations said.
The investigation established that between Nov. 21, 2013 and Feb. 18, 2014, Yanukovych and these high-ranking officials were responsible for the physical violence deployed against demonstrators.
The protests were sparked in November 2013, when Yanukovych refused to sign the long-awaited Association Agreement with the European Union, shortly thereafter receiving a loan from the Kremlin.
The protests would turn into a revolution that lasted until February 2014, ending with Yanukovych and other high-ranking officials fleeing to Russia.
On Feb. 18, Yanukovych and heads of the Internal Affairs Ministry, Defense Ministry, and SBU, gave orders to attack protesters "under the guise of an anti-terrorist operation," leading to the killing of the demonstrators on Feb. 20 by the Berkut, the General Prosecutor's Office said.
In total, more than 100 people were killed during the EuroMaidan protests. These victims are commemorated in Ukraine as the "Heavenly Hundred."
As well as intentional murder, the charges include attempted murder, intentional grievous bodily harm, the organization of terrorist acts, and the illegal obstruction of demonstrations and rallies.
During the investigation, the State Bureau of Investigations found evidence of 1,019 cases of illegally obstructing protesters.
Since the suspects are still located in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea, the criminal proceedings were therefore conducted in absentia, the General Prosecutor's Office said.
If prosecuted, the crimes carry a maximum punishment of up to life in prison.
Sofiya Doig
