Moscow has launched more than 1,500 drones at Ukrainian cities in the past two days, Kyiv has said, marking the largest Russian attack over a 48-hour period since the war began.
"In total, since midnight yesterday, Russia has used more than 1,560 drones against our cities and communities," Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
"These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” he added, referring to recent comments by Vladimir Putin that the war could soon come to an end.
Images show vast buildings in Kyiv reduced to rubble, after at least 15 missiles and 23 drones directly struck 24 locations.
Putin’s forces fired at least 675 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine in a massive overnight attack into Thursday, after firing at least 800 drones in a massive daytime barrage on Wednesday.
At least seven people were killed today after at least six were killed on Wednesday. Dozens have been wounded in the attacks.
Mr Zelensky said Russian attacks overnight hit ordinary civilian buildings, like “school, a veterinary clinic, and other purely civilian infrastructure” as Putin’s troops fired aeroballistic, cruise and ballistic missiles.
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Key Points
- One dead and 16 injured in overnight attacks in Kyiv
- Hungary to ask when will Putin ‘end this bloody war’
- Russia fires more than 700 drones and missiles overnight
- Former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace placed on Russia’s wanted list
- Frontline dynamics appear to shift in Ukraine's favour as Russia's 'spring offensive' goes nowhere
Follow latest updates on Russia-Ukraine war here
04:46 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine war latest: Putin ‘escalating war’ after nine killed in deadly Russian attack
Briefing: What we know on the 1,540th day of Ukraine war
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:21 , Arpan Rai- Russia is attacking Kyiv once again in a major barrage of missiles and drones, leaving four injured and damage across at least six districts of the Ukrainian capital
- The overnight attack comes after Vladimir Putin’s forces attacked Ukraine with more than 800 drones and killed six people on Wednesday, one of its biggest daytime aerial assaults ever
- The deadly attacks have continued on Ukraine despite Russian leader Putin and US president Donald Trump saying the war is coming to an end, suggesting progress between Moscow and Washington. But Volodymyr Zelensky categorically rejected Moscow’s bluff and said his forces are preparing for new attacks
- A defiant Zelensky has said Kyiv is not “giving up” on diplomatic efforts and will continue to pressure Russia to end the war. “Sanctions are working, our long-range (drone and missile) capabilities are working, and every form of pressure is working,” he said at a Nato gathering
Kyiv attacked with drones and ballistic missiles, four injured
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:26 , Arpan RaiAt least four people have been left wounded after Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with a mass drone and missile attack in the early hours today, officials said.
Damage was recorded across six districts of Kyiv, the head of Kyiv's military administration Tymur Tkachenko said.
He warned Russia was attacking the capital with ballistic missiles and drones.
In the Darnytsia district, a residential building partially collapsed, he said, burying people under the rubble. In the Dnieper district a drone hit the roof of a five-story residential building. Another building in the Dniprovskyi district was also damaged.
Explosions were heard across the capital in the early hours today as air raid sirens were sounded across Kyiv and other parts of the country.
Hungary to ask when will Putin ‘end this bloody war’
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:28 , Arpan RaiHungarian prime minister Péter Magyar said his new government has summoned the Russian ambassador over a drone attack near Hungary’s border, in a significant shift from his predecessor Viktor Orbán's friendly relations with Moscow.
Russia fired at least 800 drones in a massive daytime barrage on about 20 regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, including children, in one of the longest attacks by Moscow in the four-year-old war, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
At least 11 of these drones, including Shahed, entered Ukraine's Transcarpathia region, which shares its border with Hungary and Slovakia.
“The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia,” Magyar told journalists, adding that foreign minister Anita Orbán will speak with the ambassador Thursday morning.
The foreign minister will ask “when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally end this bloody war,” Magyar added.
“Thank you for your compassion and strong position!” Zelensky said on X after Magyar’s comments.
Zelensky vows to keep pressure on Moscow to make concessions in talks
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:40 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will keep up with its efforts to build pressure on Russia to end the war.
“We’re not giving up on diplomatic efforts, and we hope that pressure on Russia, together with negotiations in different formats, will help bring peace,” he said in a speech yesterday in Bucharest, Romania, to representatives of countries on Nato's eastern flank.
“Sanctions are working, our long-range (drone and missile) capabilities are working, and every form of pressure is working,” he said.
His remarks come at a time the European governments are assessing the merits of opening direct diplomatic talks with Putin.
Europe has for years tried to isolate the Russian leader and punished his country with international sanctions.
Russia's massive aerial attack during Trump's trip to China 'cannot be coincidence', Zelensky says
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:44 , Arpan RaiRussia unleashed a massive daytime drone attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, targeting critical infrastructure in the west, killing at least six people and prompting Nato-member Poland to scramble fighter jets, officials said.
Hungary condemned the strikes on areas of Ukraine with ethnic Hungarian communities and summoned the Russian ambassador.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Hungarian action as an “important message”.
“It certainly cannot be called a coincidence that one of the longest massive Russian attacks against Ukraine takes place precisely at the time when the President of the United States arrived for a visit to China,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Frontline dynamics appear to shift in Ukraine's favour as Russia's 'spring offensive' goes nowhere
Thursday 14 May 2026 04:54 , Arpan RaiUkraine has gone from pleading for international help with its defence to offering foreign countries its expertise on how to counter attacks, thanks to its domestically developed drone technology.
Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks have disrupted energy facilities and manufacturing deep inside Russia, with three regions reporting strikes on Wednesday.
The Russian defence ministry said that its forces intercepted and destroyed 286 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.
On the 1,250-kilometre (780-mile) frontline, the advance of Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army has been slowing every month since October, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Russia’s spring offensive has floundered, with Russian forces recording a net loss of territory last month for the first time since 2024, the Washington-based think tank said.
“Not only are Ukrainian defensive lines holding, but Ukrainian forces have managed to contest the tactical initiative in several areas of the front line even as Russia continues to lose disproportionate amounts of manpower to achieve minimal gains,” the ISW said Tuesday.
Poland intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea
Thursday 14 May 2026 05:17 , Arpan RaiPoland said its air force intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea, calling the Russian flight a provocation and potential threat.
"The machine was flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with transponders turned off. There was no violation of Polish airspace," the Polish army said in a social media post. Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said flights without transponders on could pose a threat to other aircraft and that its pilots would always respond immediately.
"Our aircraft intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea. This is another aggressive action by the Russian Federation and a test of our air defense systems," he wrote on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Polish army said it had undertaken military aviation operations in Polish airspace as a preventative measure due to Russian strikes on Ukraine.
"Ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems that were activated have returned to standard operational activities," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces wrote on X.
Former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace placed on Russia’s wanted list
Thursday 14 May 2026 05:33 , Arpan RaiRussia has added Ben Wallace, the former British defence minister, to a wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal investigation, according to state media reports on Wednesday, which cited the Russian Interior Ministry’s database.
Mr Wallace served as the UK’s defence secretary from before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 until August 2023.
Since leaving office, he has consistently advocated for increased military support for Kyiv and has been a vocal critic of Russian aggression.
Watch: Russia launches vast drone attack on Ukraine
Thursday 14 May 2026 05:45 , Arpan RaiOne dead and 16 injured in overnight attacks in Kyiv
Thursday 14 May 2026 05:53 , Arpan RaiOfficials in Kyiv say an overnight Russian air raid on the capital has killed at least one person and injured 16.
Damage was recorded across six districts of Kyiv, according to head of Kyiv's military administration Tymur Tkachenko. He warned Russia was attacking the capital with ballistic missiles and drones.
Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure was damaged.In the Darnytsia district, a multistory residential building partially collapsed splitting the structure in half and burying people under the rubble.
At least 10 people were rescued from the rubble, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service.
At the scene, emergency workers searched for survivors as smoke from the attack continued to smolder beneath the pile of rubble.
Resident Lyudmila Hlushko, 78, said she heard a lot of explosions and the sound of rockets flying around 3am.
“Then the house shook violently and there was a loud bang, breaking the glass in my house,” she said.
In the Dnieper district, a drone hit the roof of a five-story residential building, Tkachenko said. Another building in the Dniprovskyi district was also damaged.
In photos: Blasts in Kyiv after Putin launches deadly assault
Thursday 14 May 2026 06:08 , Arpan Rai
What is Putin’s powerful ‘Satan II’ nuclear missile that Russia claims could strike as far as South America?
Thursday 14 May 2026 06:25 , Arpan RaiRussia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernise the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by president Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.
Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda.
“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” Putin declared, adding that the combined power of the Sarmat’s individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart. These claims could not be independently verified.
The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine.
What is Putin’s Satan II missile Russia claims could strike as far as South America?
Russia fires more than 700 drones and missiles overnight
Thursday 14 May 2026 06:32 , Arpan RaiRussia launched at least 675 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine in a massive overnight attack, Ukraine's Air Force said this morning.
Ukraine said its air defences had downed 652 drones and 41 missiles, and that 38 hits had been recorded across 24 locations. Damage from debris was reported at another 18 locations.
Russian strikes on Ukraine hit Odesa ports and railways
Thursday 14 May 2026 06:40 , Arpan RaiRussia's overnight air strikes on Ukraine targeted civilian infrastructure including ports in the southern Odesa region and railways, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said this morning.
Russia's massive aerial attack during Trump's trip to China 'cannot be coincidence', Zelensky says
Thursday 14 May 2026 06:50 , Arpan RaiRussia unleashed a massive daytime drone attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, targeting critical infrastructure in the west, killing at least six people and prompting Nato-member Poland to scramble fighter jets, officials said.
Hungary condemned the strikes on areas of Ukraine with ethnic Hungarian communities and summoned the Russian ambassador.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Hungarian action as an “important message”.
“It certainly cannot be called a coincidence that one of the longest massive Russian attacks against Ukraine takes place precisely at the time when the President of the United States arrived for a visit to China,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Hungary to ask when will Putin ‘end this bloody war’
Thursday 14 May 2026 07:00 , Arpan RaiHungarian prime minister Péter Magyar said his new government has summoned the Russian ambassador over a drone attack near Hungary’s border, in a significant shift from his predecessor Viktor Orbán's friendly relations with Moscow.
Russia fired at least 800 drones in a massive daytime barrage on about 20 regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, including children, in one of the longest attacks by Moscow in the four-year-old war, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
At least 11 of these drones, including Shahed, entered Ukraine's Transcarpathia region, which shares its border with Hungary and Slovakia.
“The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia,” Magyar told journalists, adding that foreign minister Anita Orbán will speak with the ambassador Thursday morning.
The foreign minister will ask “when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally end this bloody war,” Magyar added.
“Thank you for your compassion and strong position!” Zelensky said on X after Magyar’s comments.
Former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace placed on Russia’s wanted list
Thursday 14 May 2026 07:15 , Arpan RaiRussia has added Ben Wallace, the former British defence minister, to a wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal investigation, according to state media reports on Wednesday, which cited the Russian Interior Ministry’s database.
Mr Wallace served as the UK’s defence secretary from before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 until August 2023.
Since leaving office, he has consistently advocated for increased military support for Kyiv and has been a vocal critic of Russian aggression.
Frontline dynamics appear to shift in Ukraine's favour as Russia's 'spring offensive' goes nowhere
Thursday 14 May 2026 07:30 , Arpan RaiUkraine has gone from pleading for international help with its defence to offering foreign countries its expertise on how to counter attacks, thanks to its domestically developed drone technology.
Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks have disrupted energy facilities and manufacturing deep inside Russia, with three regions reporting strikes on Wednesday.
The Russian defence ministry said that its forces intercepted and destroyed 286 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.
On the 1,250-kilometre (780-mile) frontline, the advance of Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army has been slowing every month since October, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Russia’s spring offensive has floundered, with Russian forces recording a net loss of territory last month for the first time since 2024, the Washington-based think tank said.
“Not only are Ukrainian defensive lines holding, but Ukrainian forces have managed to contest the tactical initiative in several areas of the front line even as Russia continues to lose disproportionate amounts of manpower to achieve minimal gains,” the ISW said Tuesday.
One dead and 16 injured in overnight attacks in Kyiv
Thursday 14 May 2026 07:40 , Arpan RaiOfficials in Kyiv say an overnight Russian air raid on the capital has killed at least one person and injured 16.
Damage was recorded across six districts of Kyiv, according to head of Kyiv's military administration Tymur Tkachenko. He warned Russia was attacking the capital with ballistic missiles and drones.
Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure was damaged.In the Darnytsia district, a multistory residential building partially collapsed splitting the structure in half and burying people under the rubble.
At least 10 people were rescued from the rubble, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service.
At the scene, emergency workers searched for survivors as smoke from the attack continued to smolder beneath the pile of rubble.
Resident Lyudmila Hlushko, 78, said she heard a lot of explosions and the sound of rockets flying around 3am.
“Then the house shook violently and there was a loud bang, breaking the glass in my house,” she said.
Zelensky vows to keep pressure on Moscow to make concessions in talks
Thursday 14 May 2026 07:50 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will keep up with its efforts to build pressure on Russia to end the war.
“We’re not giving up on diplomatic efforts, and we hope that pressure on Russia, together with negotiations in different formats, will help bring peace,” he said in a speech yesterday in Bucharest, Romania, to representatives of countries on Nato's eastern flank.
“Sanctions are working, our long-range (drone and missile) capabilities are working, and every form of pressure is working,” he said.
His remarks come at a time the European governments are assessing the merits of opening direct diplomatic talks with Putin.
Europe has for years tried to isolate the Russian leader and punished his country with international sanctions.
Watch: Russia launches vast drone attack on Ukraine
Thursday 14 May 2026 08:00 , Arpan RaiZelensky's former chief of staff Yermak under arrest
Thursday 14 May 2026 08:03 , Arpan RaiUkraine's anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of president Volodymyr Zelensky and former head of his administration, on money-laundering charges.
The court also set bail at 140m hryvnias ($3.19m), which would allow Yermak, who has denied the allegations against him, to be released pending a final ruling in his case.
Ukraine says Putin's bombing connected to Trump-Xi summit
Thursday 14 May 2026 08:24 , Arpan RaiUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has tied the overnight attack to Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, saying Russia’s assault proved it posed a threat to international security.
“At the very time when leaders of the most powerful countries are meeting in Beijing, and the world hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation, [Vladimir] Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles at the capital of Ukraine,” Sybiha said on Telegram.
He said there should be “no illusions” about ending the war.
“Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop,” Sybiha said of Putin, adding that US and Chinese leaders had sufficient leverage to compel Russia to end the war.
Neither Putin or Trump have provided details about what has changed to make a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict possible.
Shock in Ukraine as corruption court arrests Zelensky’s former right-hand man
Thursday 14 May 2026 08:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine's anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky and former head of his administration, on money-laundering charges.
The court also set bail at 140 million hryvnias ($3.19 million), which would allow Yermak, who has denied the allegations against him, to be released pending a final ruling in his case.
"I don't have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances (to raise the money for bail)," Yermak told reporters after the court's decision.
"My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth."
Shock in Ukraine as corruption court arrests Zelensky’s former right-hand man
Vet clinic, schools and residential buildings attacked, says Zelensky
Thursday 14 May 2026 08:51 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian attacks overnight hit ordinary civilian buildings as Vladimir Putin’s troops fired not just drones but aeroballistic, cruise and ballistic missiles.
“A rescue operation is currently underway in Kyiv at the site of a Russian drone strike on a nine-story residential building – an entire section of the building has been completely destroyed. Dozens of people have been rescued. Tragically, one person has been killed,” he said on X this morning.
He said the Russians launched more than 670 attack drones and 56 missiles against Ukraine.
“Ballistic, aeroballistic, and cruise missiles were used in the strikes. The main target of this attack was Kyiv. There is damage at twenty locations across the city – ordinary residential buildings, a school, a veterinary clinic, and other purely civilian infrastructure,” he said.
He added that energy infrastructure was also hit alongside port and residential areas.
“In total, since midnight yesterday, Russia has used more than 1,560 drones against our cities and communities. These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” he said, referring to Putin’s recent comments.
A rescue operation is currently underway in Kyiv at the site of a Russian drone strike on a nine-story residential building – an entire section of the building has been completely destroyed. Dozens of people have been rescued. Tragically, one person has been killed. My… pic.twitter.com/HKyqZ4sFv3
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2026
One dead and 33 injured in overnight attacks in Kyiv
Thursday 14 May 2026 09:05 , Arpan RaiOfficials in Kyiv say an overnight Russian air raid on the capital has killed at least one person and injured 16.
Damage was recorded across six districts of Kyiv, according to head of Kyiv's military administration Tymur Tkachenko. He warned Russia was attacking the capital with ballistic missiles and drones.
Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure was damaged.In the Darnytsia district, a multistory residential building partially collapsed splitting the structure in half and burying people under the rubble.
At least 10 people were rescued from the rubble, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service.
At the scene, emergency workers searched for survivors as smoke from the attack continued to smolder beneath the pile of rubble.
Resident Lyudmila Hlushko, 78, said she heard a lot of explosions and the sound of rockets flying around 3am.
“Then the house shook violently and there was a loud bang, breaking the glass in my house,” she said.
Russian strikes on Ukraine hit Odesa ports and railways
Thursday 14 May 2026 09:25 , Arpan RaiRussia's overnight air strikes on Ukraine targeted civilian infrastructure including ports in the southern Odesa region and railways, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said this morning.
What is Putin’s powerful ‘Satan II’ nuclear missile that Russia claims could strike as far as South America?
Thursday 14 May 2026 09:50 , Arpan RaiRussia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernise the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by president Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.
Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda.
“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” Putin declared, adding that the combined power of the Sarmat’s individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart. These claims could not be independently verified.
The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine.
What is Putin’s Satan II missile Russia claims could strike as far as South America?
Poland intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea
Thursday 14 May 2026 10:05 , Arpan RaiPoland said its air force intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea, calling the Russian flight a provocation and potential threat.
"The machine was flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with transponders turned off. There was no violation of Polish airspace," the Polish army said in a social media post. Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said flights without transponders on could pose a threat to other aircraft and that its pilots would always respond immediately.
"Our aircraft intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea. This is another aggressive action by the Russian Federation and a test of our air defense systems," he wrote on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Polish army said it had undertaken military aviation operations in Polish airspace as a preventative measure due to Russian strikes on Ukraine.
"Ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems that were activated have returned to standard operational activities," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces wrote on X.
Watch: A look at Russia launches vast drone attack on Ukraine
Thursday 14 May 2026 10:25 , Arpan RaiUkraine says Putin's bombing connected to Trump-Xi summit
Thursday 14 May 2026 10:45 , Arpan RaiUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has tied the overnight attack to Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, saying Russia’s assault proved it posed a threat to international security.
“At the very time when leaders of the most powerful countries are meeting in Beijing, and the world hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation, [Vladimir] Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles at the capital of Ukraine,” Sybiha said on Telegram.
He said there should be “no illusions” about ending the war.
“Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop,” Sybiha said of Putin, adding that US and Chinese leaders had sufficient leverage to compel Russia to end the war.
Neither Putin or Trump have provided details about what has changed to make a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict possible.
Right at the time when the leaders of the most powerful countries meet in Beijing and the world hopes for peace, predictability, and cooperation, Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, at the capital of Ukraine.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 14, 2026
This barbaric attack during such an… pic.twitter.com/YhVGhtjyhG
Russia fires more than 700 drones and missiles overnight
Thursday 14 May 2026 11:00 , Arpan RaiRussia launched at least 675 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine in a massive overnight attack, Ukraine's Air Force said this morning.
Ukraine said its air defences had downed 652 drones and 41 missiles, and that 38 hits had been recorded across 24 locations. Damage from debris was reported at another 18 locations.
Shock in Ukraine as corruption court arrests Zelensky’s former right-hand man
Thursday 14 May 2026 11:15 , Arpan RaiUkraine's anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky and former head of his administration, on money-laundering charges.
The court also set bail at 140 million hryvnias ($3.19 million), which would allow Yermak, who has denied the allegations against him, to be released pending a final ruling in his case.
"I don't have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances (to raise the money for bail)," Yermak told reporters after the court's decision.
"My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth."
Ukrainian authorities on Monday named Yermak as a suspect in a major corruption probe. His arrest was the closest that anti-corruption officials have come to the president's inner circle.
Shock in Ukraine as corruption court arrests Zelensky’s former right-hand man
Vet clinic, schools and residential buildings attacked, says Zelensky
Thursday 14 May 2026 11:30 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian attacks overnight hit ordinary civilian buildings as Vladimir Putin’s troops fired not just drones but aeroballistic, cruise and ballistic missiles.
“A rescue operation is currently underway in Kyiv at the site of a Russian drone strike on a nine-story residential building – an entire section of the building has been completely destroyed. Dozens of people have been rescued. Tragically, one person has been killed,” he said on X this morning.
He said the Russians launched more than 670 attack drones and 56 missiles against Ukraine.
“Ballistic, aeroballistic, and cruise missiles were used in the strikes. The main target of this attack was Kyiv. There is damage at twenty locations across the city – ordinary residential buildings, a school, a veterinary clinic, and other purely civilian infrastructure,” he said.
He added that energy infrastructure was also hit alongside port and residential areas.
“In total, since midnight yesterday, Russia has used more than 1,560 drones against our cities and communities. These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” he said, referring to Putin’s recent comments.
A rescue operation is currently underway in Kyiv at the site of a Russian drone strike on a nine-story residential building – an entire section of the building has been completely destroyed. Dozens of people have been rescued. Tragically, one person has been killed. My… pic.twitter.com/HKyqZ4sFv3
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2026
Slovakia condemns Russian air attack on Ukraine
Thursday 14 May 2026 12:29 , Alex CroftSlovakia has condemned the latest Russian air attacks on Ukraine which reached areas with a Slovak minority, Slovak foreign minister Juraj Blanar said on Thursday.
"Slovakia condemns yesterday's and today's massive air attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory reaching as far as Uzhhorod in the Transcarpathian region near the border with the Slovak Republic, where a sizeable Slovak minority also lives," Mr Blanar said in a statement.
The condemnation comes despite recent shifts by the Slovakian government towards a more pragmatic and pro-Russian stance, differentiating from its neighbours in the EU.
In pictures: Kyiv heavily damaged in huge Russian air attack
Thursday 14 May 2026 13:31 , Alex Croft
Former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace placed on Russia’s wanted list
Thursday 14 May 2026 14:30 , Alex CroftRussia has added Ben Wallace, the former British defence minister, to a wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal investigation, according to state media reports on Wednesday, which cited the Russian Interior Ministry’s database.
Mr Wallace served as the UK’s defence secretary from before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 until August 2023.
Since leaving office, he has consistently advocated for increased military support for Kyiv and has been a vocal critic of Russian aggression.
The state media reports did not provide further details regarding the investigation, and Mr Wallace has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This development follows a call last October from a regional Russian lawmaker for Mr Wallace to be placed on Russia’s international wanted list.
Read more here:
Russia attacks UN vehicle twice with drones, Zelensky says
Thursday 14 May 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftRussia attacked a UN vehicle twice with drones during a humanitarian mission in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Thursday, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"Russians could not have been unaware of which vehicle they were targeting," Mr Zelensky said on X.
He added that the head of the office and eight other staff members were inside, but no one was wounded in the attacks and the mission personnel have been evacuated.
As of now, already 5 people have been reported killed in Kyiv as a result of last night’s Russian attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Around 40 people have been injured in the capital, and another 7 in the Kyiv region. There are already 28 injured in Kharkiv.… pic.twitter.com/1rjJhLvzYr
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2026
Moscow says it has claimed control of village in Donetsk region
Thursday 14 May 2026 16:30 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing from the Russian defence ministry, which said on Thursday its forces had taken control of the village of Mykolaiivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, state news agency TASS reported.
The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
Two employees injured in attack near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, Russia says
Thursday 14 May 2026 17:25 , Maira ButtTwo employees have been injured in a Ukrainian drone attack near the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, the plant's Russian-installed management said on Thursday.
They were injured 100 meters from the station's perimeter while travelling in a vehicle as part of their official duties, according to a post by the company’s management on Telegram.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Thursday it has been informed of a major increase in drone activity near Ukrainian nuclear power plant sites this week.
Trump says Ukraine war could soon come to an end - ICYMI
Thursday 14 May 2026 18:00 , Alex CroftUK defence secretary condemns Russia's 'shocking' attack on Ukraine
Thursday 14 May 2026 18:28 , Alex CroftUK defence secretary John Healey has condemned Russia for the “shocking” attacks on Ukraine over the past day.
“I’ve directed for UK deliveries of air defence and counter-drone systems to be accelerated as fast as possiblem,” Mr Healey writes on X.
“We stand with Ukraine in the face of Putin’s aggression. Our thoughts are with Ukrainian families,” he added.
Hungary summons Russian ambassador to protest attack in Ukraine near its border
Thursday 14 May 2026 19:32 , Alex CroftHungary has summoned the Russian ambassador over a massive drone attack near Hungary’s border with Ukraine, marking a stark shift of tone by new Prime Minister Péter Magyar toward Moscow after years of cozy relations with the Kremlin under former Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán.
The ambassador, Evgeny Stanislavov, is expected at arrive at the foreign ministry around noon Thursday to speak with Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán about strikes that hit the Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia on Wednesday. The region is home to a sizable Hungarian minority.
“The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia," Magyar said Wednesday during a press conference in Ópusztaszer in southern Hungary when he announced the summons.
“She will tell him the same and ask for information on when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally end this bloody war that began more than four years ago,” the prime minister added.
The Russian government has not made any public statements on the summons.
Zelensky's former right hand man arrested in corruption probe
Thursday 14 May 2026 20:30 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's former right-hand man was taken into custody on Thursday on money-laundering charges.
It is part of a fight by Ukrainian investigators against graft that is fuelling wartime political tensions.
They named Andriy Yermak on Monday as an official suspect in a sprawling, multi-episode case that has gripped Ukraine for months and stoked anger among a war-battered population at high-level corruption.
His arrest represents the deepest authorities have dug into the president's inner circle in their bid to weed out graft as Kyiv strives for membership in the European Union.
The anti-corruption court also set bail at 140 million hryvnias (£2.4 million), which would allow Mr Yermak - who served as Mr Zelensky's chief of staff and has denied the allegations against him - to be released pending a final ruling in his case.
"I don't have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances (to raise the money for bail)," Yermak told reporters after the court's decision.
"My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth."
Pictured: Devastation in Kyiv following huge Russia attack
Thursday 14 May 2026 21:29 , Alex Croft
Poland intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea
Thursday 14 May 2026 22:30 , Alex CroftPoland said its air force intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea, calling the Russian flight a provocation and potential threat.
"The machine was flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with transponders turned off. There was no violation of Polish airspace," the Polish army said in a social media post. Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said flights without transponders on could pose a threat to other aircraft and that its pilots would always respond immediately.
"Our aircraft intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea. This is another aggressive action by the Russian Federation and a test of our air defense systems," he wrote on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Polish army said it had undertaken military aviation operations in Polish airspace as a preventative measure due to Russian strikes on Ukraine.
"Ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems that were activated have returned to standard operational activities," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces wrote on X.
Ukraine says Putin's bombing connected to Trump-Xi summit
Thursday 14 May 2026 23:30 , Alex CroftUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has tied the overnight attack to Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, saying Russia’s assault proved it posed a threat to international security.
“At the very time when leaders of the most powerful countries are meeting in Beijing, and the world hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation, [Vladimir] Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles at the capital of Ukraine,” Sybiha said on Telegram.
He said there should be “no illusions” about ending the war.
“Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop,” Sybiha said of Putin, adding that US and Chinese leaders had sufficient leverage to compel Russia to end the war.
Neither Putin or Trump have provided details about what has changed to make a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict possible.
Slovakia condemns Russian air attack on Ukraine
Friday 15 May 2026 00:30 , Alex CroftSlovakia has condemned the latest Russian air attacks on Ukraine which reached areas with a Slovak minority, Slovak foreign minister Juraj Blanar said on Thursday.
"Slovakia condemns yesterday's and today's massive air attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory reaching as far as Uzhhorod in the Transcarpathian region near the border with the Slovak Republic, where a sizeable Slovak minority also lives," Mr Blanar said in a statement.
The condemnation comes despite recent shifts by the Slovakian government towards a more pragmatic and pro-Russian stance, differentiating from its neighbours in the EU.
Frontline dynamics appear to shift in Ukraine's favour as Russia's 'spring offensive' goes nowhere
02:01 , Alex CroftUkraine has gone from pleading for international help with its defence to offering foreign countries its expertise on how to counter attacks, thanks to its domestically developed drone technology.
Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks have disrupted energy facilities and manufacturing deep inside Russia, with three regions reporting strikes on Wednesday.
The Russian defence ministry said that its forces intercepted and destroyed 286 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.
On the 1,250-kilometre (780-mile) frontline, the advance of Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army has been slowing every month since October, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Russia’s spring offensive has floundered, with Russian forces recording a net loss of territory last month for the first time since 2024, the Washington-based think tank said.
“Not only are Ukrainian defensive lines holding, but Ukrainian forces have managed to contest the tactical initiative in several areas of the front line even as Russia continues to lose disproportionate amounts of manpower to achieve minimal gains,” the ISW said Tuesday.
Latvia’s Prime Minister resigns over Ukraine-Russia drone incidents
03:00 , Alex CroftLatvia's centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina said she would resign on Thursday, triggering the collapse of her coalition government just months before an election is due in October.
"I am resigning, but I am not giving up," she said in a televised statement.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who is tasked by the constitution to select a leader of the government, will meet all parliamentary parties on Friday.
Silina, of the centre-right New Unity party, was left without a ruling majority in the parliament on Wednesday after the left-wing Progressives party said it was withdrawing its support.
The decision followed the firing over the weekend of Progressives' Defence Minister Andris Spruds over the handling of incidents involving stray Ukrainian drones flying into Latvia from Russia.
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Latvia’s Prime Minister resigns over Ukraine-Russia drone incidents
