Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday, 6 May, after Russia requested a two-day truce.
Zelensky said Ukraine will observe the truce beginning 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
He had initially said Moscow's request was "not serious" and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
Russia's Vladimir Putin had sought a ceasefire covering 8-9 May while Moscow celebrates Victory Day – the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War – by holding a grand parade.Moscow has also threatened to strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Russia had proclaimed a brief ceasefire last month for Orthodox Easter but each side accused the other of violating it.
This comes as Ukraine launched a major missile and drone attack on several regions in Russia, targeting a critical military-industrial site in the western part of the country.
The fire was reported from JSC VNIIR-Progress, a state institute that produces components for high-precision weapons used in attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces.
Key Points
- Putin threatens 'retaliatory missile strike' on Kyiv if Victory Day parade disrupted
- Luxury high-rise apartment building damaged in Moscow
- UK set to enter talks to join the EU's $105bn Ukraine loan
- Ukrainian drones hit Russia's Primorsk port, oil tankers and military ships
- Zelensky launches army reform to bolster Ukraine war effort
Moscow likely blocking cellphone internet to stop Ukraine drone attacks on parade
05:56 , Arpan RaiRussian authorities have started blocking the internet and messaging services on cellphones in Moscow as part of its preparations to hold a secure Victory Day parade this week.
“Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: ‘During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region. This may cause difficulties with cashless payments, use of ATMs and GPS services.’,” said Steve Rosenberg, a journalist and BBC editor for Russia, based in Moscow.
The notice is similar to the last year’s preparations of military parade by the Russian authorities.
Vladimir Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting 7 May, 2025, and authorities blocked cellphone internet in Moscow for several days to avert Ukrainian drone attacks.
Last year’s parade on the 80th anniversary drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests like Chinese president Xi Jinping, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico.
Watch: Zelensky mocks Russia’s equipment-free 9 May parade
05:18 , Arpan RaiFinnish president calls Ukraine a strategic asset for Nato: 'How can Ukraine help us'
04:54 , Arpan RaiUkraine has credible military and battlefield experience which makes the war-hit nation a strategic asset for Europe and Nato, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb said.
Speaking alongside his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Prague yesterday, Stubb called on Europe to shift its focus from “what it can do for Ukraine” to “what Ukraine can do for Europe”.
“We should gradually shift our thinking from ‘how can we help Ukraine’ to ‘how can Ukraine help us,’” Stubb said.
He added that there is “no other army in Europe or in the US that is capable of modern warfare in the way Ukraine is”.
Two injured in overnight attack on Kyiv
04:39 , Arpan RaiAt least two people were reportedly injured after a Russian drone attack on Brovary, a Ukrainian city northeast of Kyiv.
The drone hit residential apartments, damaging windows, the facade of a multi-storey building and a vehicle, said Kyiv regional military administration head Mykola Kalashynk.
“In Brovary, a 34-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were injured as a result of an enemy drone attack. The woman suffered a hand injury from glass fragments. The man sustained a cut wound to his heel,” he said.
Medics have provided all necessary assistance at the scene, regional officials said.
“This is yet another reminder that the enemy targets peaceful life and our homes. I urge everyone: do not ignore air raid alerts. Stay in safe places while the threat remains,” Kalashnyk said.
Ukrainian Flamingo missile attacks Russian institute producing high-precision weapons
04:26 , Arpan RaiUkraine has launched a major missile and drone attack on several regions in Russia, targeting a critical military-industrial site in the western part of the country, reported Telegram media channels.
The attack on Cheboksary in Chuvash republic sparked a massive fire, according to the photos and videos shared on social media by local residents. The fire was reported from JSC VNIIR-Progress, a state institute that produces components for high-precision weapons used in attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces, reported The Kyiv Independent.
A Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo missile was used in the attack, according to Russian Telegram channels. Locals confirmed explosions from the area of the facility after an air raid alert announcing a missile threat.
One person was injured in the attack, local governor Oleg Nikolayev said.
UN nuclear watchdog says drone damaged equipment at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia facility
04:13 , Arpan RaiThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the meteorological monitoring equipment at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
The UN nuclear watchdog said a team of its experts had visited the station's External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), a day after the plant's Russian management said it had been hit by a drone.
“Team observed damage to some of the lab's meteorological monitoring equipment which is no longer operational," the IAEA said.
The statement said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi had issued a fresh appeal "for maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks".
The plant, which now produces no electricity, has been struck several times by drones since the beginning of the conflict. The plant's management on Sunday said damage has been minor and that operations were otherwise unaffected.
Ukraine and Russia both announce ceasefires – on their own terms
04:10 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday 6 May after Russia requested a two-day truce.
Russia's Vladimir Putin had sought a ceasefire covering 8-9 May while Moscow celebrates Victory Day, the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The Russian defence ministry said it would observe a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday, during which a military parade will be held in Red Square, but threatened it would strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Zelensky initially said Moscow's request was "not serious" and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
But he has now said Ukraine will observe a truce beginning at 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
Keeping it open-ended, Zelensky did not announce when the temporary truce would end.
Recap: Putin threatens 'retaliatory missile strike' on Kyiv if Victory Day parade disrupted
03:00 , Bryony GoochRussia have threatened to launch a “massive retaliatory missile strike” on the centre of Kyiv if Ukraine attempts to disrupt their World War Two Victory Day celebration on 9 May.
Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, yet Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that they were yet to receive any official proposal.
On Monday, he dismissed the idea of a one-day ceasefire as “not serious”, after the Kremlin said it was discussed with Donald Trump.
Russia’s defence ministry warned: "Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds," adding however that it was ready to act if the ceasefire was not respected.
"We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner," it said.
Pictured: Russian serviceman hugs a girl before the rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russian missile strike kills seven in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, officials say
01:00 , Bryony GoochA midmorning Russian missile attack on the town of Merefa, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, killed seven people and wounded more than 30, including a 2-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said that at least 10 houses, an administrative building, four shops, a car repair workshop and a food establishment were damaged in the attack, which prosecutors said occurred at about 9:35am local time on Monday.
"The strike was of great force, at the centre of the town, practically in the middle of the roads," he said on Telegram, adding that it will take another day or two to clear the debris.
He said that two men and three women were killed on the spot. Two people died while being treated in hospital.
There was no immediate comment from Russia.
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Tuesday 5 May 2026 00:00 , Sam RkainaThe Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley met the founder of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Azov movement, Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province.
Click here for the full story in a rare interview with foreign media.
More pictures from today's European summit
Monday 4 May 2026 23:00 , Sam Rkaina
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem?
Monday 4 May 2026 22:00 , Sam RkainaEarlier today we reported that authorities in Ukraine have conducted dozens of searches across 16 regions into current and former draft officials suspected of corruption-related offences, police said on Monday.
The National Police said they had seized money, cars and motorcycles and filed more than 150 administrative charges for violations such as illegal enrichment and the false declaration of assets.
It is the latest in a series of moves to tackle the country’s wider corruption problem.
Anti-corruption investigators announced Operation Midas last November as they identified a large-scale corruption scheme in the country’s energy sector.
Midas takes its name from the king of Greek mythology, who turned everything he touched into gold.
Behind the probe was the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), who said their discovery was the result of 15 months of wiretapping work and cited 1,000 hours of audio recordings and more than 70 raids.
At the heart of the probe was $100 million in funds that NABU said had been laundered by an alleged criminal organisation consisting of current and former energy officials, government ministers, a former deputy prime minister, and a businessman.
Keeping Trump on side is growing problem for Zelensky's allies
Monday 4 May 2026 21:00 , Sam RkainaEuropean officials have been working on ways to convince Donald Trump to keep the United States in NATO despite severe tensions over the Iran war.
But his abrupt move to cut U.S. forces in Germany is the latest sign that such efforts have their limits and are far from certain to succeed.
The substance of the decision announced on Friday to remove 5,000 troops from Germany did not come as a surprise to NATO officials.
Dropping a plan to deploy long-range U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Germany was more concerning for Berlin.
But even that was not a huge shock, as that deal was made by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, and U.S. Tomahawk stocks have been depleted by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
More alarming for European governments was how the move was made – with little prior notification or consultation and with U.S. officials linking it to Trump’s displeasure at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of U.S. conduct of the Iran war.
“What is worrying is not the figure of 5,000 troops, but the political signal from Washington that longstanding, absolutely reliable partnerships no longer seem to count for anything and appear to be subject to arbitrary decisions,” said Siemtje Moeller, a senior lawmaker from Germany’s Social Democrats, who are part of Merz’s governing coalition.
Trump mocked for claiming he has 'all the cards' - in UNO
Monday 4 May 2026 20:15 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump once infamously attacked Ukraine’s President Zelensky for ‘not having the cards’ in the war with Russia.
It’s a trope the US leader has come back to multiple times when he discusses international conflicts - be it Ukraine or Iran.
However, his latest boasts have backfired somewhat after he claimed he had all the cards in a game that requires you to get rid of them.
A seemingly AI-generated image likely meant to signal Trump’s leverage in the Iran war, was shared to Truth Social and on the White House’s official X account on Sunday.
But social media users soon had a field day making fun of the president for missing the point of the beloved game, which is won by the player who gets rid of their cards first.
“Dear @WhiteHouse: If Trump has all the cards, then why are gas prices at record levels? Oh wait, in Uno you win by not having any cards. Your social media person really should get fired,” California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu responded to the post.
Click here for the full story.
Joining EU’s £78bn loan for Ukraine will be good for UK jobs, Starmer says
Monday 4 May 2026 19:30 , Sam RkainaEarlier today, British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said joining the European Union’s 90 billion euro (£78 billion) loan for Ukraine would be “very good” for UK-EU ties and for creating jobs in the UK.
The PM announced the UK’s bid to join the initiative at a gathering of European leaders in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Monday.
Speaking to media as he arrived at the European Political Community (EPC) summit, he said: “In relation to the EU loan that we are discussing participating in, that is very good for Ukraine, because it will give Ukraine capability that it desperately needs in year five of this conflict.”
Putin threatens 'retaliatory missile strike' on Kyiv if Victory Day parade disrupted
Monday 4 May 2026 18:58 , Holly EvansRussia have threatened to launch a “massive retaliatory missile strike” on the centre of Kyiv if Ukraine attempts to disrupt their World War Two Victory Day celebration on 9 May.
Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, yet Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that they were yet to receive any official proposal.
On Monday, he dismissed the idea of a one-day ceasefire as “not serious”, after the Kremlin said it was discussed with Donald Trump.
Russia’s defence ministry warned: "Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds," adding however that it was ready to act if the ceasefire was not respected.
"We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner," it said.
Austria expels Russian Embassy staff over suspected spying
Monday 4 May 2026 18:39 , Sam RkainaAustria expelled three Russian Embassy employees suspected of espionage by using antennas on Russian diplomatic buildings, the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry confirmed a report aired Sunday by the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, which said Austrian authorities suspected the three diplomats of engaging in spying activities using antennas on the roofs of the Russian Embassy in Vienna and a diplomatic compound in the Donaustadt district.
The installations allowed Russia to intercept data transmitted by international organizations based in Vienna via satellite internet, ORF reported.
Zelensky pushes for EU accession
Monday 4 May 2026 18:00 , Sam RkainaUkraine hopes to open negotiations on six areas for European Union accession within two months, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.
“We are counting on the opening of all six negotiation clusters over the course of this and next month.
“Technically, Ukraine is fully ready,” Zelensky said after he met with European Council President Antonio Costa in Yerevan.
Husband describes moment Russian strike killed his wife
Monday 4 May 2026 17:15 , Sam RkainaIhor Kolodiazhnyi's wife was one of the women killed in the attack on Merefa.
He frantically searched for her as explosions ripped through the small city.
“I was at home. She'd gone out about 10 minutes earlier, maybe even less. I heard an explosion,” the 41-year-old told Reuters as he stood in the street near the covered body of his wife, also 41.
“I went down there, but she didn't answer (the phone) and wasn't on the road. I understood that she couldn't have gone any further.
“I turned back, parked the car, and came out here, because she usually walks to work on this side. I walked closer, and that was it – my wife was gone...”
Footage showed a crater on the road in front of damaged cars.
A midmorning Russian missile attack on the town of Merefa, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, killed six people and wounded more than 30 others including a 2-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said that at least 10 houses, an administrative building, four shops, a car repair workshop and a food establishment were damaged in the attack, which prosecutors said occurred at about 9:35 am local time (0635 GMT).
“The strike was of great force - at the centre of the town, practically in the middle of the roads,” he said on Telegram, adding that it will take another day or two to clear the debris.
He said that two men and three women were killed on the spot and another man died in a hospital from his wounds.
Russian court freezes assets of Rusagro billionaire founder
Monday 4 May 2026 15:53 , Sam RkainaA Russian court has frozen the assets of Vadim Moshkovich, the billionaire founder of leading agricultural producer Rusagro RAGR.SBX, local media has reported.
Since the start of the military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, the Russian state has seized more than $50 billion worth of private property, including the assets of foreign companies that left Russia, according to a 2025 estimate by Moscow law firm NSP.
Prosecutors have estimated the property transfer alone, the biggest since privatisations in the 1990s, at $29 billion.
Moshkovich, Russia's 51st-richest person according to the latest Forbes list of billionaires, was arrested in March 2025 and has been charged with embezzling 30 billion roubles ($400 million). He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors had on May 1 asked the court to seize his assets.
The court said in a statement that it had on Monday carried out "preparations" ahead of a hearing scheduled for May 5.
“A protective seizure has been imposed on the movable and immovable property of Moshkovich, as well as on 100% of the shares of several companies including Rusagro,” a source familiar with the ruling told domestic news agencies.
Russia intensifies drone attacks on ports, Ukraine says
Monday 4 May 2026 15:20 , Sam RkainaRussia has stepped up its targeting of Ukrainian port infrastructure this year, Kyiv has said, using more than 800 drones in its attacks in the first four months of 2026, more than 10 times the number in the same period a year ago.
Keeping seaports in the southern Odesa region open is crucial for Ukraine and its wartime economy as exports, mostly of grains and small volumes of metal, are key for its hard currency revenues as it seeks to repel Russia.
Despite the attacks, more than 30 million metric tons of cargo have been processed at Ukraine's ports since the start of the year, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksii Kuleba said.
Ukraine's southern region has been subject to almost daily Russian attacks in recent months, with officials regularly reporting damage to port infrastructure and warehouses.
Ukrainian police raid dozens of draft officials over suspected corruption
Monday 4 May 2026 14:50 , Sam RkainaAuthorities in Ukraine have conducted dozens of searches across 16 regions into current and former draft officials suspected of corruption-related offences, police said on Monday.
Kyiv's military has been chronically short of men while fighting Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in early 2022, amid reports that officials have been bribed to grant exemptions from the call-up or to let men of fighting age slip out of the country despite a ban.
The National Police said they had seized money, cars and motorcycles and filed more than 150 administrative charges for violations such as illegal enrichment and the false declaration of assets.
“These operations are aimed not only at exposing isolated incidents of corruption but at the systemic cleansing of abuse from the sphere of recruitment,” it said in a statement.
“The aim is to restore trust in institutions that, in wartime, perform a critically important function for the state.”
Zelensky says Ukraine, EU agreed to advance on drone deal
Monday 4 May 2026 13:00 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he agreed `with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen `to advance work `on a drone `deal with the European Union.
"We also agreed to move forward actively on a Drone Deal with the European Union and reviewed the details of this prospective security cooperation," he said on X after speaking to von der Leyen on the sidelines of a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
Video from inside Moscow luxury high-rise shows extent of damage
Monday 4 May 2026 12:30 , Shweta SharmaA video shared by The Kyiv Independent shows the extent of damage inside a luxury high-rise apartment in Moscow.
The footage captures blown-out windows and doors, along with damage to the roof and walls, as emergency crews work at the scene.
The attack appeared to cause severe damage deep inside the building as decorative items and furniture were seen strewn across the floor.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties and emergency crews were working in the area.
The strike damaged parts of Mosfilm Tower, a luxury residential building located west of the city's centre.
ICYMI: Zelensky thanks King for ‘strong words’ on Ukraine in US
Monday 4 May 2026 12:00 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky has thanked the King for his “strong words” on the defence of Ukraine during his state visit to the United States.
The Ukrainian president expressed his gratitude for the monarch’s comments in a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in Armenia.
“Best regards and thanks to His Majesty for strong words in the United States supporting our people,” Mr Zelensky told the prime minister.
Read more here:
Zelensky thanks King for ‘strong words’ on Ukraine during royal’s US visit
Participation in EU loan scheme for Ukraine will lead to UK jobs, says Starmer
Monday 4 May 2026 11:30 , Shweta SharmaMoscow high-rise attack comes days before Victory Day parade
Monday 4 May 2026 11:00 , Shweta SharmaA high-rise building has been damaged in Moscow just days before the Russian capital is set to host a Victory Day parade on 9 May.
The suspected Ukrainian drone strike overnight hit a building just 7km away from where the parade is due to take place.
The Kremlin has already said the parade will be scaled back this year due to what it described as a “terrorist threat” from Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said authorities were taking all necessary steps to minimise risks, while confirming the event will still go ahead at Red Square.
The defence ministry said the annual commemoration of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II will not include military vehicles or cadets, citing the “current operational situation”.
This morning's strike damaged parts of Mosfilm Tower, a luxury residential building located west of the city's centre.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties and emergency crews were working in the area.
UK to enter talks on joining European Union’s £78bn loan for Ukraine
Monday 4 May 2026 10:30 , Shweta SharmaThe UK is set to start talks to join the European Union’s 90 billion euro (£78 billion) loan for Ukraine, as the Government seeks to bolster support for Kyiv and deepen defence ties with the bloc.
Sir Keir Starmer will tell leaders at a European gathering in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on Monday that Britain wants to work more closely with them to ensure Ukraine gets the military equipment it needs to continue its fightback against Russia’s invasion.
The bid to participate in the loan scheme – recently approved by the EU after Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungarian elections ended a long-running impasse – is part of the Prime Minister’s reset with Brussels.
UK to enter talks on joining European Union’s £78bn loan for Ukraine
Nato is ‘disintegrating’, Donald Tusk says in urgent call to action
Monday 4 May 2026 10:00 , Shweta SharmaPoland’s prime minister has said Nato is “disintegrating” after the United States announced it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.
Donald Tusk wrote on social media: “The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance. We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend.”
His comments come after the US announced a plan to pull around 5,000 troops out of Germany over the next six to 12 months.
Nato is ‘disintegrating’, Donald Tusk says in urgent call to action
Zelensky tells Armenia summit that Europe must be at table for peace talks
Monday 4 May 2026 09:45 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky pressed Ukraine's allies for stronger and more coordinated action, warning that Europe must play a central role in shaping any future peace talks with Russia.
Addressing the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, he stressed that Kyiv needs fresh sanctions packages this year to maintain pressure on Moscow, and urged partners to prepare for the possibility that Russia may not end the war any time soon.
That, he said, requires a clearer strategy on next steps – both militarily and diplomatically.
“We are in contact with the United States and we understand their views and positions. But it would be good to develop one common European voice," Zelensky said in a speech in Yerevan.
"We need to find a workable diplomatic format and Europe must be at the table in any talks," he said.
Zelensky repeated his pleas for more military support via programmes like the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a procurement mechanism for providing Ukraine with military equipment from US stockpiles, paid for by other allies.
He said his country needs new PURL packages to defend itself against aerial attacks from Russia.
What is happening is Moscow
Monday 4 May 2026 09:30 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has hit Russia’s capital with a series of drone strikes this morning.
A drone struck a building in Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday, adding there were no casualties.
The drone hit the Mosfilm Tower, a luxury residential building located west of the city's centre.
Photos appeared to show damage to the upper floor of the high-rise apartment building as the emergency crews arrived on the scene.
The mayor said Russian air defences destroyed two more Moscow-bound drones.
"The defence ministry’s air defence forces repelled an attack of two Moscow-bound drones," he wrote. "First responders are working at the crash site."
The drone strike inside a residential complex in the Russian capital happened about 7km from Red Square. The targeted tower is located in an upscale district near embassies and diplomatic residences.
The strike could be one of Ukraine’s deepest strikes into central Moscow.
Three killed in Russian attack in Kharkiv
Monday 4 May 2026 09:28 , Shweta SharmaA Russian missile strike has killed three people and injured eight in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, the regional governor said.
More details are awaited.
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Monday 4 May 2026 09:00 , Shweta SharmaWorld affairs editor Sam Kiley meets the founder of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Azov movement, Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province.
He writes how he is one of Kyiv’s most ambitious, controversial and successful military commanders.
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
How many American troops are in Europe and where are they?
Monday 4 May 2026 08:30 , Shweta SharmaThe United States had approximately 68,000 active-duty military personnel assigned permanently in its overseas bases in Europe as of December 2025, data from the US Defence Manpower Data Centre (DMDC) shows. These do not include rotational forces sent on deployment and exercise missions.
The U.S. military is spread over 31 permanent bases and a further 19 military sites to which the Department of Defence has access as of March 2024, a Congress report shows.
In photos: Keir Starmer, Macron and top leaders arrive for key EU summit in Armenia
Monday 4 May 2026 08:15 , Shweta SharmaThe European Political Community summit in Yerevan opened on Monday with leaders from across Europe to discuss security, defence, and political cooperation at a time of heightened tensions driven by the war in Ukraine.
The forum – created after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – offers a platform for EU and non-EU countries to coordinate responses on key issues such as military support for Kyiv, energy security, and regional stability.
Attendees included Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Poland’s premier Donald Tusk, Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, Nato chief Mark Rutte, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and vice president Kaja Kallas, and European Council president Antonio Costa.
During the summit, the UK will announce that it is entering talks to join the European Union’s €90bn (£78bn) loan scheme for Ukraine.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, the first leader of a non-European country to attend the EPC, also participated.
Russia says it rejects US citizenship imposed on Russian diplomats’ children
Monday 4 May 2026 08:00 , Shweta SharmaRussia will not recognise US citizenship granted to children of its diplomats born in the United States, insisting they remain under Russian jurisdiction, the foreign ministry said.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the ministry, said that Moscow will demand case-by-case confirmation from Washington that such children are exempt from US jurisdiction and retain full diplomatic immunity under international conventions.
"The Russian side does not recognize the imposition of US citizenship on Russian citizens born into the families of our diplomatic, administrative-technical, and consular personnel in the United States," she wrote in an article for Vedomosti, a Russian-language business daily newspaper.
It comes as a new bill in America aims to ensure that being born on US soil no longer guarantees an American passport unless your parents are already elite permanent residents.
Joining EU’s loan for Ukraine will boost UK jobs and ties with bloc, Starmer says
Monday 4 May 2026 07:24 , Shweta SharmaKeir Starmer has said joining the European Union’s €90bn (£78bn) loan scheme for Ukraine would be “very good” for UK–EU ties and for job creation in Britain, as he prepares to formally announce the UK’s bid at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan.
Speaking on arrival, Starmer said participation would boost Ukraine’s military capability in the fifth year of the war, while also supporting jobs in the UK and strengthening relations with the EU ahead of further negotiations.
He is set to co-chair a Ukraine-focused meeting with France, urging closer coordination to ensure Kyiv receives the military equipment it needs to continue resisting Russia.
Downing Street also confirmed that the UK will unveil fresh sanctions on Russian companies later this week to disrupt military supply chains.
Speaking to the media as he arrived at the European Political Community (EPC) summit, he said: “In relation to the EU loan that we are discussing participating in, that is very good for Ukraine, because it will give Ukraine capability that is desperately needs in year five of this conflict.
“It’s very good for the UK, because of the capability that leads to jobs in the United Kingdom.
“And it’s very good for UK-EU relations, which is very important as we go on to the various discussions.”
Picture show damage to Moscow building
Monday 4 May 2026 06:30 , Shweta SharmaImages emerging from Moscow show visible damage after a drone strike, offering a rare glimpse into the impact of the war inside the Russian capital.
Photos and social media footage capture debris hanging from the upper floors of a residential building on Mosfilmovskaya Street, with sections of the façade torn open and rubble scattered across the ground below.
Emergency personnel can be seen working at the site, cordoning off the area and assessing the damage.
The strike, reportedly carried out by Ukraine, appears to have hit a high-rise apartment block in one of Moscow’s more upscale districts, not far from diplomatic residences.
Sir Keir Starmer meets Zelensky as he pledges more support to Ukraine
Monday 4 May 2026 06:30 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said he met British prime minister Keir Starmer and thanked King Charles for his “strong words” on the defence of Ukraine during his state visit to the US.
Meeting Mr Starmer in Armenia, he said: “Best regards and thanks to His Majesty for strong words in the United States supporting our people.”
Zelensky said he appreciates all the steps the United Kingdom has taken to support our people and weaken the aggressor, including efforts to counter Russia’s shadow fleet.
Britain will begin talks to join the EU’s Ukraine loan scheme, the UK government said.
Starmer is expected to announce the move at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, signalling closer UK–EU coordination on military support for Kyiv. The EU-approved loan will cover about two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs over the next two years, largely for defence.
IAEA says a drone targeted Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant's external radiation control laboratory
Monday 4 May 2026 06:22 , Shweta SharmaThe Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday that a drone had targeted its external radiation control laboratory.
There were no reported injuries and it was not yet known if the strike damaged the lab, which is located outside the nuclear power plant's perimeter, according to the IAEA.
An IAEA team at the site has requested access to the lab, Director General Rafael Grossi said, reiterating that any attacks near nuclear sites can pose nuclear safety risks.
Moscow building attack could be one deepest Ukrainian strike inside Russia
Monday 4 May 2026 06:08 , Shweta SharmaThe Ukrainian attack on a luxury apartment building could be one of the deepest strikes into central Moscow.
The drone strike inside a residential complex in the Russian capital happened about 7km from Red Square. The targeted tower is located in an upscale district near embassies and diplomatic residences.
Videos on social media appear to show a low-flying drone heading towards Moscow shortly before 1am, with residents reporting loud explosions soon after.
Images suggest damage to the upper floors of the Mosfilm Tower, a luxury high-rise west of the city centre, with drone debris scattered on the street as emergency crews responded.
Ukraine has yet to confirm the drone strike.
Ukrainian drones hit Russia's Primorsk port, oil tankers and military ships
Monday 4 May 2026 06:00 , Shweta SharmaUkraine launched a volley of missiles and drone strikes across Russia, striking the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and three ships allegedly being used to transport Russian crude.
The strike caused a fire at Primorsk, a major oil-exporting outlet, the Russian regional governor confirmed.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northwest region which hosts the port, said more than 60 drones were downed overnight. He said the fire at Primorsk was quickly extinguished and there had been no oil spill following the attack.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes had caused significant damage to the oil terminal port.
They also hit an oil tanker, a small Russian Karakurt-class missile ship and a patrol boat in the Baltic Sea, he said on Telegram.
"Each such result further limits Russia’s war potential," he wrote.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said global oil prices may rise further if Ukraine continues to hit Russia's oil infrastructure, Russian TV reported.
Drone hits building in Moscow, mayor says
Monday 4 May 2026 06:00 , Shweta SharmaA drone has struck a building in Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday, adding there were no casualties.
The drone hit the Mosfilm Tower, a luxury residential building located west of the city's centre.
Photos appeared to show damage to the upper floor of the high-rise apartment building as the emergency crews arrived on the scene.
UK set to enter talks to join the EU's $105bn Ukraine loan
Monday 4 May 2026 05:15 , Shweta SharmaBritain is set to enter talks to join the European Union's £78bn loan ($106bn) to Ukraine, the government said on Sunday, in a further sign of deepening European defence ties under rising US pressure.
Prime minister Keir Starmer is expected on Monday to tell a summit in Armenia's capital Yerevan of the European Political Community - a discussion forum set up after Russia's invasion in 2022 - that Britain wants to work with the EU to support Ukraine in getting vital military equipment, his office said.
The loan, approved by the EU last month, is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, with the bulk of that amount earmarked for military spending as Kyiv defends itself against Russia's four-year war.
The extra funding could also unlock opportunities for British businesses to meet Ukraine's urgent needs, particularly in the defence sector, the government said in a statement.
"When the UK and the European Union work together, we all reap the benefits — and in these volatile times we need to go further and faster on defence to keep people safe," Starmer said in the statement.
Zelensky launches army reform to bolster Ukraine war effort
Monday 4 May 2026 05:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a series of reforms for the country's armed forces via social media.
The changes, agreed in April and due to be finalised this month, are scheduled to come into effect in June.
Key reforms include increased pay for military personnel, based on combat experience and efficacy, with non-combat roles receiving at least 30,000 hryvnias.
Ukraine offers Finland a drone deal, Zelensky says
Monday 4 May 2026 03:59 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said that he had offered Finland to strengthen the two countries' partnership by signing a drone deal, sharing technology and combat expertise developed during the four-year war with Russia.
"Ukraine is ready to share its expertise and strengthen those who have been strengthening us since the very beginning of the full-scale invasion," Zelensky said after he met with Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo in Yerevan.
He thanked Finland for providing an additional $300m for defence support to Ukraine.
Watch: Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right wing agitator to war hero
Monday 4 May 2026 03:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDrone kills 2 in Kherson minibus strike, as Russia claims front-line progress
Monday 4 May 2026 02:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo people were killed after a Russian drone attacked a minibus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials said Saturday, in the latest barrage of civilian areas, a hallmark of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Seven people were also wounded in the attack, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said. Hours later Russia attacked another minibus in Kherson, wounding the driver, he said.
On Ukraine's Black Sea coast, a Russian strike damaged port infrastructure in the city of Odesa. No casualties were reported.
Drone kills 2 in Kherson minibus strike, as Russia claims front-line progress
Zelensky thanks King for ‘strong words’ on Ukraine in US
Monday 4 May 2026 01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVolodymyr Zelensky has thanked the King for his “strong words” on the defence of Ukraine during his state visit to the United States.
The Ukrainian president expressed his gratitude for the monarch’s comments in a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in Armenia.
“Best regards and thanks to His Majesty for strong words in the United States supporting our people,” Mr Zelensky told the Prime Minister.
Read more here:
Ukraine hits key Russian oil-loading port and 3 'shadow fleet' tankers
Monday 4 May 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine on Sunday launched a wave of strikes against Russian oil targets, hitting a key loading port on the Baltic Sea and two tankers that Ukraine alleges were illegally used to transport Russian crude.
A nighttime drone strike sparked a blaze at Russia’s largest oil exporting port on the Baltic Sea, the port of Primorsk, according to Russian regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko.
The port, operated by Russia’s state oil firm Transneft, is capable of handling hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Primorsk, which was targeted multiple times in March, lies over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Ukraine, between the Russian-Finnish border and Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg.
Ukraine hits key Russian oil-loading port and 3 'shadow fleet' tankers
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Sunday 3 May 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWorld affairs editor Sam Kiley meets the founder of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Azov movement, Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province:
Telephone signals abruptly collapse as we descend into a bunker at a secret location close to Ukraine’s front line with Russia, for a meeting with one of Kyiv’s most ambitious, controversial and successful military commanders.
Easily within reach of medium-range Russian drones and jets, the caution was routine. But it takes on added drama when it emerges that an alleged Ukrainian traitor, working with Russian intelligence, was recently in the area tracking the movements of Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi.
Read more here:
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Germany focuses on shared interests after US announces troop drawdown
Sunday 3 May 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSIGN UP
Germany's defense minister on Saturday appeared to take in stride a Pentagon announcement that the United States plans to pull some 5,000 troops out of Germany, saying a drawdown was expected and emphasizing the mutual benefit of the longstanding U.S. deployment in Europe.
Boris Pistorius said Europe recognized and was acting on the necessity of doing more to ensure its own security within the U.S.-led NATO military alliance that counts Germany as a key member, and said it is doing so. He suggested America, too, gains from its military deployment in the continent.
“The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the U.S.,” Pistorius told the German news agency dpa.
Germany focuses on shared interests after US announces troop drawdown
UK expels Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official
Sunday 3 May 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn case you missed this:
The U.K. on Wednesday expelled a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official and the smear campaign that followed.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it summoned the Russian ambassador to its offices in London to inform him of the “reciprocal action.” The tit-for tat moves reflect spiraling tensions between Moscow and the West.
“This behavior is wholly unacceptable, and we will not tolerate harassment or intimidation of our diplomatic staff,’’ the Foreign Office said in a statement.
UK expels Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official
How many American troops are in Europe and where are they?
Sunday 3 May 2026 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe United States is to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a key Nato ally, the Pentagon announced on Friday. The decision marks the most significant step yet by Washington to scale back its military footprint in Europe.
This move follows a public disagreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the conflict in Iran. It also comes after months of criticism from Washington, alleging that European nations have not contributed sufficiently to supporting American efforts in the region or to their own defence.
Here are some key details on U.S. military presence in Europe.
Nato is ‘disintegrating’, Donald Tusk says in urgent call to action
Sunday 3 May 2026 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPoland’s prime minister has said Nato is “disintegrating” after the United States announced it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.
Donald Tusk wrote on social media: “The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance. We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend.”
His comments come after the US announced a plan to pull around 5,000 troops out of Germany over the next six to 12 months.
Read more here:
Nato is ‘disintegrating’, Donald Tusk says in urgent call to action
Ukraine offers Finland a drone deal, Zelensky says
Sunday 3 May 2026 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had offered Finland to strengthen the two countries partnership by signing a drone deal, sharing technology and combat expertise developed during the four-year war with Russia.
"Ukraine is ready to share its expertise and strengthen those who have been strengthening us since the very beginning of the full-scale invasion," Zelensky said after he met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Yerevan.
Swedish coast guard seizes suspected false flag tanker in Baltic Sea
Sunday 3 May 2026 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Swedish Coast Guard said on Sunday it had seized a tanker in the Baltic Sea believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, the latest in a string of similar actions carried out in recent months by the country's authorities.
The Swedish Coast Guard said in a statement that it and police had boarded the Syrian-flagged Jin Hui in Swedish territorial waters south of Trelleborg and begun a preliminary investigation into a lack of seaworthiness.
"The coast guard suspects that the ship is sailing under a false flag, given there are a number of irregularities concerning its flag status, and therefore does not meet demands for seaworthiness as set out in international regulations and agreements," it said.
The coast guard said the ship, whose destination was unclear and was thought to be carrying no cargo, figured on several sanctions lists, including those of the European Union and Britain.
Swedish Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, said separately on X that the vessel was suspected of belonging to the Russian so-called shadow fleet.
European nations have stepped up efforts to disrupt the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine.
Russia has condemned such moves as hostile.So far this year, Sweden has stopped five vessels on suspicion of various offences, including oil spills and sailing under a false flag, and opened criminal proceedings against some crew members.
Zelensky thanks King for ‘strong words’ on Ukraine in US
Sunday 3 May 2026 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVolodymyr Zelensky has thanked the King for his “strong words” on the defence of Ukraine during his state visit to the United States.
The Ukrainian president expressed his gratitude for the monarch’s comments in a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in Armenia.
“Best regards and thanks to His Majesty for strong words in the United States supporting our people,” Mr Zelensky told the Prime Minister.
The two met on Sunday at a hotel in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, where leaders from across Europe are gathering for Monday’s European Political Community (EPC) summit.
Charles, in a speech to Congress last week, spoke of the importance of Nato and support for Kyiv, amid concerns over Donald Trump’s waning interest in the conflict.
The King’s address has been widely interpreted as a gentle pushback against some of the US president’s peeves including Ukraine, from which his attention has been diverted by the Iran war.
In their meeting, Mr Zelensky also thanked Sir Keir for the UK’s sanctions against Russia and efforts to counter its shadow fleet, saying the measures set a “great example” for other allies.
“I think that Russia’s economy feels it,” Ukraine’s leader said.
Germany focuses on shared interests after US announces troop drawdown
Sunday 3 May 2026 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGermany's defense minister on Saturday appeared to take in stride a Pentagon announcement that the United States plans to pull some 5,000 troops out of Germany, saying a drawdown was expected and emphasizing the mutual benefit of the longstanding U.S. deployment in Europe.
Boris Pistorius said Europe recognized and was acting on the necessity of doing more to ensure its own security within the U.S.-led NATO military alliance that counts Germany as a key member, and said it is doing so. He suggested America, too, gains from its military deployment in the continent.
“The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the U.S.,” Pistorius told the German news agency dpa.
Germany focuses on shared interests after US announces troop drawdown
Russia says Ukrainian drones hit lab at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Sunday 3 May 2026 15:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces carried out a drone attack on a laboratory at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, but no critical damage of injuries have been reported.
It also said that the plant continued its operations as usual.
Russian strikes kill 10 across Ukraine
Sunday 3 May 2026 15:26 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian strikes have killed 10 and injured at least 76 people across Ukraine in the past day, Ukrainian officials have said.
Officials said three people were killed in separate incidents in Kherson region, while two died in each of Odesa, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and one in Sumy region.
Drone kills 2 in Kherson minibus strike, as Russia claims front-line progress
Sunday 3 May 2026 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo people were killed after a Russian drone attacked a minibus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials said Saturday, in the latest barrage of civilian areas, a hallmark of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Seven people were also wounded in the attack, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said. Hours later Russia attacked another minibus in Kherson, wounding the driver, he said.
On Ukraine's Black Sea coast, a Russian strike damaged port infrastructure in the city of Odesa. No casualties were reported.
Read more here:
Drone kills 2 in Kherson minibus strike, as Russia claims front-line progress
Russia's Primorsk port hit as Ukraine launches wave of drone strikes
Sunday 3 May 2026 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian drones attacked Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk on Sunday, temporarily setting it on fire, local governor Alexander Drozdenko said on the Telegram messaging app, as Kyiv launched a wave of strikes on targets across the country.
Drozdenko said more than 60 drones were downed overnight over Russia's northwestern Leningrad region.
There was no oil spill following the attack on Primorsk, a major oil exporting outlet, and the fire was extinguished, he added.
Primorsk, one of Russia's largest export gateways, has capacity to handle 1 million barrels per day of oil supply.
It has been hit multiple times in recent months as Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and other targets as US-brokered talks to end the Ukraine war have stalled.
Kremlin warns of oil price increase if Ukrainian strikes on its facilities continue
Sunday 3 May 2026 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that global oil prices may rise further if Ukraine continues to hit Russia's oil infrastructure, Russian TV reported.
“If additional volumes of our oil are dropped from the market, prices will rise further from current levels, which are already above $120 a barrel. That would mean that even with lower export volumes, our companies would earn more money and the state would receive more revenue,” Peskov said.
Ukraine hits Russia's Primorsk port, damages oil infrastructure, Zelensky says
Sunday 3 May 2026 13:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine's military successfully hit Russia's Primorsk port, causing significant damage to the infrastructure of the oil terminal port, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
In a post on the Telegram app, Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops also struck the Karakurt-class missile ship, a patrol boat, and one more shadow fleet oil tanker, adding that "each such result further limits Russia’s war potential".
Watch: Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right wing agitator to war hero
Sunday 3 May 2026 12:30 , Arpan RaiUkraine hits two shadow fleet tankers near Russia's Novorossiysk port
Sunday 3 May 2026 12:23 , Arpan RaiUkrainian forces attacked two shadow fleet tankers in waters at the entrance to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning.
"These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore," Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.
"Ukraine's long-range capabilities will continue to be developed comprehensively – at sea, in the air, and on land."
Our warriors continue to apply sanctions against Russia’s shadow oil fleet – two such vessels were struck in the waters at the entrance to the port of Novorossiysk. These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore. I am grateful to Chief of the General Staff… pic.twitter.com/8aCse8h95j
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 3, 2026
Zelensky flags 'unusual' activity along Ukraine-Belarus border
Sunday 3 May 2026 11:23 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his forces observed an unusual activity along the country’s border with Belarus.
“Yesterday, there was rather unusual activity along sections of the Ukraine–Belarus border – on the Belarusian side. We are closely documenting everything and keeping the situation under control,” Zelensky said, without sharing the details of the movement.
“If necessary, we will react. Ukraine is ready to defend its people and its sovereignty. Everyone who is being drawn into any aggressive actions against Ukraine must understand this,” he said.
Belarus, a close ally of the Kremlin, has allowed Russia to use its territory as a staging ground to send troops into Ukraine and to host some of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right wing agitator to war hero
Sunday 3 May 2026 11:06 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWorld affairs editor Sam Kiley meets the founder of Ukraine’s far-right Azov movement Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province:
Telephone signals abruptly collapse as we descend into a bunker at a secret location close to Ukraine’s front line with Russia - for a meeting with one of Kyiv’s most ambitious, controversial and successful military commanders.
Easily within reach of medium-range Russian drones and jets, the caution was routine. But it takes on added drama when it emerges that an alleged Ukrainian traitor, working with Russian intelligence, was recently in the area tracking the movements of Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi.
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right wing agitator to war hero
Russian forces capture village in Ukraine's Sumy region, defence ministry says
Sunday 3 May 2026 10:45 , Arpan RaiRussian troops took control of the village of Myropillia in Ukraine's Sumy region, the defence ministry said on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.
The ministry also said its air defence forces shot down 505 drones overnight.
Drone kills two in Kherson minibus strike
Sunday 3 May 2026 10:23 , Arpan RaiTwo people were killed after a Russian drone attacked a minibus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials said Saturday, in the latest barrage of civilian areas, a hallmark of Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
Seven people were also wounded in the attack, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said. Hours later Russia attacked another minibus in Kherson, wounding the driver, he said.
Why US troop withdrawl from Germany matters in Ukraine war
Sunday 3 May 2026 09:23 , Arpan RaiA pullout of 5,000 soldiers from Germany would amount to about one-seventh of the 36,000 American service members stationed in the country.
The Pentagon offered few details about which troops or operations would be affected.
The withdrawal is scheduled to take place over the next six to 12 months. Donald Trump previously said he would pull 9,500 troops from Germany during his first term, but he didn't start the process and Democratic president Joe Biden formally stopped the planned withdrawal soon after taking office in 2021.
More broadly, around 80,000-100,000 US personnel are usually stationed in Europe – depending on operations, exercises and troop rotations.
The US increased its European deployment after Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022. Nato allies like Germany have expected for over a year that these troops would be the first to leave.
Ukraine is hitting oil facilities deep inside Russia. Soaring fuel prices could blunt the impact
Sunday 3 May 2026 08:23 , Arpan RaiUkrainian drones are flying deep into Russia to strike oil facilities, sending up plumes of smoke that can be seen from space and bringing toxic rain to tourist destinations on the Black Sea.
The attacks are aimed at slashing Moscow’s oil exports, a key source of funding for its grinding invasion of Ukraine. But the economic impact is so far unclear, as the rise in oil prices from the Iran war, and a related easing of U.S. sanctions, have helped replenish the Kremlin’s coffers.
Still, the range of the attacks and their environmental impact is bringing the war home to ordinary Russians far from the front lines.
Ukraine is hitting Russian oil sites but rising fuel prices may blunt the impact
Ukraine hits two shadow fleet tankers near Russia's Novorossiysk port
Sunday 3 May 2026 07:53 , Arpan RaiUkrainian forces attacked two shadow fleet tankers in waters at the entrance to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning.
"These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore," Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.
"Ukraine's long-range capabilities will continue to be developed comprehensively – at sea, in the air, and on land."
Our warriors continue to apply sanctions against Russia’s shadow oil fleet – two such vessels were struck in the waters at the entrance to the port of Novorossiysk. These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore. I am grateful to Chief of the General Staff… pic.twitter.com/8aCse8h95j
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 3, 2026
Ukrainian drones attack Russia's Primorsk port, governor says
Sunday 3 May 2026 07:27 , Arpan RaiUkrainian drones attacked Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk on Sunday, setting it on fire, local governor Alexander Drozdenko said on the Telegram messaging app.
He said more than 60 drones were downed overnight over Russia's northwestern Leningrad region. There was no oil spill following the attack on Primorsk, a major oil exporting outlet, and the fire was extinguished, he added.
Zelensky sanctions his former chief of staff
Sunday 3 May 2026 07:00 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has imposed sanctions on his former chief of staff Andriy Bohdan, who headed his presidential office before the war in Ukraine erupted in 2022.
No official reason was given to explain the sanctions.
Bohdan said on Facebook that the move may be linked to recent media reports alleging possible involvement by Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, in corrupt dealings.
The former official suggested that the president suspects a connection between the publications and Bohdan’s work as a lawyer.
Under the sanction, Bohdan’s state honours will be revoked, his assets will be frozen and his commercial transactions will be banned.
The sanctions will remain in force for 10 years.
Drone kills two in Kherson minibus strike
Sunday 3 May 2026 06:44 , Arpan RaiTwo people were killed after a Russian drone attacked a minibus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials said Saturday, in the latest barrage of civilian areas, a hallmark of Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
Seven people were also wounded in the attack, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said. Hours later Russia attacked another minibus in Kherson, wounding the driver, he said.
Ukraine reports fighting reaches outskirts of Kostiantynivka
Sunday 3 May 2026 06:13 , Arpan RaiRussian troops are inching towards the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, trying to establish a foothold close to a heavily defended area, Ukraine's top army official said yesterday.
Kostiantynivka, along with other cities, forms a so-called fortress belt in the country's east - an area well fortified by the Ukrainian military.
"We are repelling the Russian occupiers' persistent attempts to gain a foothold in the outskirts of Kostiantynivka using infiltration tactics. Counter-sabotage measures are going on in the city," Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's army chief, said on the Telegram app.
A Ukrainian battlefield mapping project called DeepState shows that Russian troops control an area around only one kilometre (0.6 mile) from the city's southern outskirts.
Small chunks of Kostiantynivka, in southeast Ukraine, are marked as a grey zone, meaning neither Ukraine nor Russia has full control over them.
Zelensky flags 'unusual' activity along Ukraine-Belarus border
Sunday 3 May 2026 06:09 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his forces observed an unusual activity along the country’s border with Belarus.
“Yesterday, there was rather unusual activity along sections of the Ukraine–Belarus border – on the Belarusian side. We are closely documenting everything and keeping the situation under control,” Zelensky said, without sharing the details of the movement.
“If necessary, we will react. Ukraine is ready to defend its people and its sovereignty. Everyone who is being drawn into any aggressive actions against Ukraine must understand this,” he said.
Yesterday, there was rather unusual activity along sections of the Ukraine–Belarus border – on the Belarusian side. We are closely documenting everything and keeping the situation under control. If necessary, we will react.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 2, 2026
Ukraine is ready to defend its people and its… pic.twitter.com/NRHIXHpPiM
Ukraine is hitting oil facilities deep inside Russia. Soaring fuel prices could blunt the impact
Sunday 3 May 2026 02:00 , Holly EvansUkrainian drones are flying deep into Russia to strike oil facilities, sending up plumes of smoke that can be seen from space and bringing toxic rain to tourist destinations on the Black Sea.
The attacks are aimed at slashing Moscow’s oil exports, a key source of funding for its grinding invasion of Ukraine. But the economic impact is so far unclear, as the rise in oil prices from the Iran war, and a related easing of U.S. sanctions, have helped replenish the Kremlin’s coffers.
Still, the range of the attacks and their environmental impact is bringing the war home to ordinary Russians far from the front lines.
Read the full article here:
Ukraine is hitting Russian oil sites but rising fuel prices may blunt the impact
Russian forces capture village in Ukraine's Sumy region, defence ministry says
Sunday 3 May 2026 01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian troops took control of the village of Myropillia in Ukraine's Sumy region, the defence ministry said on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.
The ministry also said its air defence forces shot down 505 drones overnight.
Fibre-optic drones reshaped the war in Ukraine. Hezbollah are now adopting the deadly weapon
Sunday 3 May 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainHezbollah has introduced a new, difficult-to-detect weapon against northern Israel: small drones controlled by fibre-optic cables. These devices, with cables the width of dental floss, are designed to evade electronic detection, posing a fresh challenge to air defences.
Unlike many drones vulnerable to electronic jamming, which can cause them to crash, these fibre-optic variants are directly connected to an operator.
This direct link makes them impossible to jam electronically, a characteristic widely seen in the war in Ukraine. Though not infallible – wind or other drones can tangle their cables – their lethality is high.
Fibre-optic drones reshaped the war in Ukraine. Hezbollah are now adopting the weapon
