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Ukraine's military intelligence on Nov. 18 dismissed Russia's claims that a Ukrainian military pilot fled to Russia with his aircraft.
Earlier the same day, Russian state-run news agency TASS claimed that a Ukrainian Ka-52 helicopter pilot named Oleksiy Voyevoda supposedly flew over into Russian territory.
In response, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov said that Russia created this propaganda to control for reputational damage that resulted from "mass surrender and defection by Russian occupiers, including officers and pilots with vehicles."
In September, Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov flew a Russian Mi-8 helicopter into Ukraine and surrendered it and himself to Ukrainian forces that coordinated the operation with him. Kuzminov's family had been covertly moved out of Russia before his own escape. He was awarded $500,000 bounty by the Ukrainian government.
After Kuzminov's defection went public, Ukrainian intelligence officials claimed they recorded a surge of Russian offers to surrender through the dedicated hotline.
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Friday, May 8
The Kyiv Independent is proud to announce that the Kyiv Independent’s reporter Asami Terajima has been shortlisted for the 2026 One World Media Awards in the Print Award category.
(Updated: )
The fire, previously estimated at around 2,400 hectares (5,930 acres) on May 7, has now expanded to about 4,300 hectares (10,600 acres).
Ukrainian drones previously attacked local oil infrastructure overnight on April 29-30.
Instead of going to court, Russia's oligarchs are relying on a 1989 investment treaty, which Belgium and Luxembourg signed with the Soviet Union.
(Updated: )
Rustem Umerov said he and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed humanitarian issues, prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, and peace efforts.
A Ukrainian delegation asked U.S. State Department officials to verify whether sanctioned vessels in Russia's shadow fleet are using Starlink technology, which could violate U.S. sanctions policy.
(Updated: )
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed later in the day that Ukrainian forces attacked the city of Yaroslavl, targeting an oil infrastructure facility.
Russia is deploying an additional four regiments, 24 battalions, and 162 batteries to counter Ukrainian strike drones, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
(Updated: )
"(Russia) wants permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"So far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
'The Azov (Corps) is already patrolling its hometown of Mariupol. For now, from the air. But there's more to come," the statement read.
Ukrainian forces downed 56 out of 67 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported.
More than 140 strikes on Ukrainian front-line positions had been recorded by 7 a.m. local time, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
