Ukraine returns 3 marines from Russian captivity

1:15 PM

Syrskyi: Russia expanding attacks in Kharkiv Oblast, 'tough battles ahead.'

Syrski's comments came a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists Russian troops were able to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep during their offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, but the front in the region has been stabilized.

12:12 PM

Media: Ukrainian coal businessman Kropachov detained.

Ukrainian businessman Vitaliy Kropachov is the owner of the Ukrdoninvest Group of companies with assets in the coal industry, machine-building, construction, transportation, and media.

11:48 AM

Zelensky: No reports of artillery shortages for first time in full-scale war.

Over the winter months, Ukraine's armed forces suffered a "critical" shortage of artillery shells, in large part due to delays in U.S. military aid.

11:29 AM

Zelensky: Russia's Kharkiv Oblast offensive advances as far as 10 km, halted by 1st defense line.

Russian troops were able to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep in some areas during their offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, but the front in the region has been stabilized, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on May 16.

11:06 AM

Police: Russia using civilians in Vovchansk as human shields.

Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the police of the Kharkiv Oblast, said on air on Suspilne that up to 40 civilians, most of them elderly, had been taken captive when trying to escape Russian shelling.

10:34 AM

Pentagon: Washington has not changed position on Ukrainian strikes in Russia with US arms.

Washington has not changed its position on potential Ukrainian strikes with U.S.-supplied weapons on Russian territory, even after Russia had launched its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said at a press briefing on May 16.

10:11 AM

Belbek airfield strikes destroyed 3 Russian planes, satellite images suggest.

Satellite images obtained by RFE/RL and The New York Times suggested two MiG-31s and one Su-27 were damaged if not totally destroyed.

9:26 AM

Air Force: Ukraine downs all 20 Russian drones overnight.

Russian Shahed-type drones were intercepted over Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts, Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said.

9:15 AM

Russia claims over 100 downed drones amid reports of massive attack on port, oil facilities.

If confirmed, it would be the largest drone attack by Ukraine throughout the entire war. A previous attack in March saw the Kremlin claiming to have downed 65 drones.

8:46 AM

Russia claims fire at oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai after drone attack.

A fire broke out at an oil refinery in the town of Tuapse in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on May 17 after a drone attack, the regional operational headquarters claimed.

8:23 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 489,870 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 489,870 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 17.

7:18 AM

Drone strike causes fire at Belgorod Oblast gas station.

Ukrainian forces attacked multiple settlements in Belgorod Oblast on May 16-17, damaging a gas station and killing two people, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed.

5:59 AM

Update: Drone strikes cause blackouts, school closures in occupied Sevastopol.

Drone attacks targeting the port city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea overnight on May 17 damaged a substation, causing blackouts that prompted occupation authorities to close schools.

5:12 AM

Novorossiysk port, oil depot hit in overnight attack.

Drones and missiles struck an oil refinery and seaport in the Russian city of Novorossiysk in the early hours of May 17, causing explosions and power outages, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported.

4:40 AM

UK Defense Ministry: Ukraine's economy to grow by 3% in 2024.

"Despite attacks by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, it is likely that Ukraine will see real economic growth of around 3 percent in 2024," the ministry said.

3:32 AM

New York Times: NATO member states considering sending military instructors to Ukraine.

Some NATO member states are discussing the possibility of sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops and assist with equipment repairs, the New York Times reported on May 16.

1:55 AM

Record longest air raid alert in Kharkiv, six explosions recorded.

At around 1 a.m. on May 17, a lengthy air raid alert was finally lifted in Kharkiv Oblast after officials reported numerous Russian drone strikes and a ballistic missile threat.

1:20 AM

Russian Foreign Ministry declares British defense attaché persona non grata.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared Adrian Coghill, the military attaché of the British Embassy in Moscow, persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within a week.

11:39 PM

Reuters: Sri Lanka to send delegation to return mercenaries fighting on behalf of Russia.

According to reports, a top official in the Sri Lankan government stated that the government will send a delegation to Russia to investigate the fate of hundreds of nationals reportedly fighting in the war in Ukraine.

11:39 PM

Reuters: G7 will support using frozen Russian assets revenue to fund Ukraine.

The G7 finance ministers are set to meet on May 24, where they will work out the details to come to a final decision before a summit in Italy in June.

11:16 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky says situation in Kharkiv 'difficult' but 'under control,' Russia suffering 'significant losses.'

11:02 PM

Russia

New defense minister Belousov to put Russia's economy on war footing

10:51 PM

US imposes sanctions on Russians who helped transport weapons from North Korea to Russia.

With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.

10:34 PM

NATO top commander says Russia has insufficient numbers for breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast.

Echoing comments from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said earlier in the day that the situation in Kharkiv Oblast was "difficult" but "under control," General Christopher Cavoli expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to withstand the assault.

10:07 PM

Moldova to hold referendum on joining EU in October.

The European Council agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova last December. Chisinau has moved closer to Europe over recent months amid repeated warnings that the Kremlin is attempting to carry out a destabilization campaign inside the country's borders.