"Our involvement in the war was justifiable, and this belongs to our sovereign rights," North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un said. "I regard this as part of the sacred mission we must execute for our brothers and comrades-in-arms."
"We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone's support" for Ukraine's accession, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
"(T)he presence at the Victory Parade of a country that bombs cities, hospitals, and daycares, and which has caused the deaths and injuries of over a million people over three years, is a shame," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
"According to the participants of the performances, their goal is to remind the civilized world of the barbaric actions of Moscow, which for many years and decades has systematically violated international law," a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
"I have great hope that an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine will be reached this weekend," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 9, shortly before traveling to Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Poland, and the U.K.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will arrive in Kyiv early on May 10.
The United States embassy in Kyiv on May 9 issued a warning that Russia could launch "a potentially significant" attack in the coming days, despite Putin's self-declared Victory Day "truce."
The sanctioned oil tankers have transported over $24 billion in cargo since 2024, according to Downing Street. The U.K. has now sanctioned more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.
Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
Remains of a Shahed 136 kamikaze drone at an exhibition showing remains of missiles and drones that Russia used to attack Kyiv on May 12, 2023, in Kyiv. (Photo: Oleksii Samsonov /Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine's Air Force reported on Aug. 6 that 30 missiles and 27 kamikaze drones were shot down by air defense overnight during Russia's latest mass attack that came in several waves.
According to the Air Force, Russia launched 14 Kalibr missiles and three Kinzhal missiles in the first wave of the attack on the evening of Aug. 5. Twelve of the 14 Kalibr missiles were destroyed but no information has been provided on the Kinzhal missiles.
Russia continued its attack into the early hours of Aug. 6, launching Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones from the southeast, Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea, and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-96 strategic bombers in the Caspian Sea.
In this second wave of attack, Ukraine's air defense destroyed all 27 Shahed drones, five out of the six Kalibr missiles, and 13 out of 20 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles.
Several regions were targeted during both waves. President Volodymyr Zelensky said aircraft engine manufacturer Motor Sich's facilities in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as unspecified targets in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, came under attack.
The Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration wrote that the region was attacked three times overnight but "most of the missiles" were intercepted by air defense.
Russian forces were likely targeting the airport in the city of Starokostiantyniv, according to the administration.
In the Starokostiantyniv community, roofs, doors, and windows of several private residential buildings were damaged by explosion shock waves. Windows were also shattered in one of the public cultural establishments, the bus station, and a commercial building.
A fire also broke out at a farm warehouse. During the explosion, one worker at the facility was injured. No other casualties were reported.
According to Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Yurii Malashko, a missile hit the outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia and emergency services were on site to put out the resulting fire. No casualties were reported.
Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim wrote that air defense destroyed two Kalibr missiles and two drones over the region. No casualties were reported.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
Elsa Court
