Ukraine Invasion: Part 61

[MagicFox]

Welcome to thread 61 with many thanks to all So many thanks to all contributors and a special salute to those providing daily updates. For the 61st time, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events
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the post mentioned the online currency. also, bugger, forgot the Russian losses

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Russia has received a new batch of Su-35S multirole fighters, though the exact number has not been disclosed.
Rostec said it delivered the generation 4++ Su-35S aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The company claims the fighters are designed to “gain air superiority” and strike ground targets at significant distances from their home airfields.
Rostec did not specify how many aircraft were transferred.
The Su-35S is a Russian generation 4++ multirole fighter developed by Sukhoi based on the Su-27 platform. It is equipped with thrust-vectoring engines and can carry both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

🇵🇱 Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Russia is not currently capable of launching a full-scale offensive against NATO countries, but the Alliance must be prepared for sabotage and provocations.
Sikorski noted that European intelligence services would detect preparations for a major Russian offensive against NATO.
“We saw the buildup of one hundred thousand troops around Ukraine, which had been growing for months,” he said.
At the same time, the diplomat stressed that Russia’s intentions have turned out to be worse than many Western European countries expected, and that Moscow is now capable of carrying out sabotage operations or provocations, for which NATO must be ready.

The Czech ammunition initiative remains in operation, but only nine of the original 18 countries are currently contributing to it, Czech President Petr Pavel told the Financial Times.
[...]
Under the Czech-led initiative, Ukraine has received more than four million large-caliber artillery shells since 2024. According to Pavel, the program covers up to 50% of Ukraine’s needs for large-caliber ammunition, and there is currently no alternative to it.
The Czech president said the future of the initiative should be among the issues discussed at the NATO summit in Ankara in July.
Pavel’s office declined to disclose which countries had recently withdrawn. According to sources cited by the Financial Times, Germany and some Scandinavian countries remain participants.
However, one source noted that “some countries now find it strange to pay for something that no longer has clear support from the political leadership of the leading country.”
Babiš repeatedly criticized the initiative during the election campaign, and after taking office his administration reportedly left it in limbo for several months.
As a result, some countries are now choosing to buy shells directly from manufacturers and transfer them to Ukraine, instead of relying on the Czech Republic to coordinate purchases.

🇱🇹 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that the threat to the airspace of the Baltic states has increased amid a series of incidents involving drones entering their territory.
Assessing the current situation, the president also pointed to the growing range of hybrid threats.
“Today, the skies over the Baltic states are no longer safe enough. We are facing increasing pressure — from drone incursions and electronic jamming to information attacks and threats of sabotage against critical infrastructure. This is the new security reality in Europe,” Nausėda stressed.

Russia spent an estimated $361 million to $411 million on the strike against Kyiv on May 24, according to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The cost of a single Oreshnik missile is estimated at around $50 million, and there are reasons to believe that two such missiles may have been used in the attack.

[more info]
🇬🇧 Britain has imposed sanctions on 18 cryptocurrency platforms, banks, and financial companies that Russia allegedly used to bypass restrictions and finance the war against Ukraine.
Among the entities targeted is the A7 network, which, according to the UK, is backed by the Kremlin to circumvent sanctions and facilitate payments for oil sales.
London estimates that more than $90 billion passed through A7 last year — roughly half of Russia’s annual military spending.
Individuals linked to the network have also been placed under sanctions.

About 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war are currently being held in Russian captivity, along with an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Ukrainian civilians, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratyuk said during the presentation of the study “Violation of the Rights of Prisoners of War to Health Care and Medical Treatment: Consequences, Qualifications and Prospects.”
“More than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to torture and ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
Wounds left to fester. Amputations without anesthesia. Teeth pulled out without anesthesia by drunken personnel. Tourniquets removed from the wounded after the terrorist attack in Olenivka. The deliberate denial of medical care is a separate weapon used by Russia.
If we look more broadly — at the deportation of Ukrainian children and mass crimes against the civilian population — we see a comprehensive picture.
This war bears signs of a genocidal policy against the Ukrainian people. Our task is to build a proper evidence base so that all those responsible are brought to justice,” she said.
According to Kondratyuk, during the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to bring home more than 9,000 citizens, including over 400 civilians.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces are marking their 10th anniversary on May 27. For a decade, they have carried out some of the most difficult and often secret missions. They have defended Ukrainian territory and carried out operations deep behind Russian lines.

The enemy attacked two districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region nearly 20 times using drones, artillery, and aerial bombs, injuring six people, said the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Hanzha.

Russian forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure in the Odesa region with strike drones, said the head of Odesa regional military administration Oleh Kiper.

🇺🇦🐧 Ukraine has secured the creation of a new protected nature conservation area in Antarctica.
At the 48th Meeting of the Parties to the Antarctic Treaty, participating states supported a three-year initiative by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The protected area includes parts of Collins Bay near the Akademik Vernadsky Station, home to unique moss ecosystems, bird colonies, and rare biodiversity.
Ukraine said the goal is to protect these areas from excessive tourism and the effects of climate change.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

More than 50 countries condemned Russia at the UN after Moscow unleashed hundreds of drones and missiles on Ukraine in a savage weekend assault.
The coalition also sounded the alarm over Russia’s use of an Oreshnik missile against Bila Tserkva, warning the nuclear-capable weapon marks an “unacceptable escalation.”

Putin signed a decree offering debt relief to Russians who join the war against Ukraine.
Under the new measure, contract soldiers and their families can have overdue loans of up to 10 million rubles ($138,000) written off if they sign military contracts for at least one year.

Russia’s spy chief warned that smart cameras and Western-made surveillance technology could expose the locations of political leaders and officials.
FSB head Alexander Bortnikov claimed US and Israeli intelligence allegedly used video surveillance systems in Tehran to track Iranian officials, calling it a serious security warning for countries relying on foreign technology.

Russia’s huge missile and drone blitz on Ukraine may have cost the Kremlin more than $400 MILLION — and one of Putin’s Oreshnik missiles appears to have failed.
The Institute for the Study of War said a second Oreshnik ballistic missile likely malfunctioned and crashed in occupied Donetsk during Moscow’s May 24 assault involving 600 drones and 90 missiles.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran could take “a few days” after US Central Command hit missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines in southern Iran.

Ukraine launched overnight strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure, reportedly hitting an aircraft repair plant in Taganrog, the Baltimor airbase in Voronezh, and the Tuapse oil refinery.
Occupied Sevastopol also came under missile and drone attack as Moscow claimed to down 140 Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine says it has already marked 500 targets inside Belarus if Lukashenko enters the war.
The warning comes as tensions rise over alleged drone incidents near the border, raising fears of a wider escalation.

Belarusian democratic forces have officially opened a mission in Kyiv, signaling closer ties with Ukraine amid rising regional tensions.
The new office will coordinate with Ukrainian institutions, support Belarusians in Ukraine and strengthen cooperation with opposition groups challenging Lukashenko’s rule.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇪🇺 The EU is considering temporarily limiting veto rights for future member states, The Guardian reports, citing sources.
The proposal concerns decisions on foreign policy, taxation, and other areas that currently require unanimous approval from all EU members.
The move is intended to simplify the enlargement process and reduce the risk of new members blocking key decisions. The mechanism could be applied to Montenegro, which aims to become the EU’s 28th member by 2028, as well as other candidate countries including Moldova and Ukraine.
The discussion was reportedly prompted by the experience with Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government repeatedly blocked major EU decisions, including a €90 billion aid package for Ukraine.

🇷🇺 Russia is capable of jamming GPS signals up to 450 km deep into Europe, affecting Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Sweden, and Belarus, Reuters reports.
According to Lithuanian communications regulator chief Darius Kuliešius, Moscow has significantly increased the number of spoofing antennas — systems that broadcast false GPS coordinates.
At the beginning of 2025, Russia reportedly had only three such antennas. Now there are 36, all located in the Kaliningrad region between Lithuania and Poland.
Kuliešius said the interference is already degrading mobile communications in Lithuania’s border regions. In the city of Klaipėda, located about 50 km from Kaliningrad, even online bus schedules reportedly stop functioning because of the disruptions.

🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹 The Baltic states are turning to Ukraine for help in building bomb shelters.
Ihor Fedirko, head of the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, said that companies from the Baltic countries have recently contacted Ukrainian defense manufacturers and experts to discuss purchasing protective shelters.
Meanwhile, Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest, stated that the company has already held preliminary talks with Baltic governments about shelter construction projects.

A priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is suspected of directing Russian missile strikes on Odesa in March 2024. Those attacks killed 21 people and injured more than 70 others.
According to the SBU, Russian forces used coordinates provided by the cleric to strike a recreational area in Odesa with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles. The second missile hit after emergency crews had arrived at the scene — a medic and a rescuer were killed.
Investigators say the priest was recruited by Russian intelligence through Telegram channels after posting pro-Russian comments there. While still wearing clerical robes, he allegedly walked around the city marking potential targets on online maps.
He reportedly passed the information through a chatbot administered by collaborator Serhii Lebedev, known by the alias “Lokhmatyi,” who is based in occupied Donetsk and works with Russian military intelligence.
The priest is also accused of providing Russia with coordinates of Ukrainian air defense positions and information about an electrical substation near Odesa that was later struck by Russian forces.
He has been charged with high treason and faces a possible life sentence with confiscation of property.

🇨🇿 In the Czech Republic, Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church was released after being detained on suspicion of drug transportation, according to a statement on his Telegram channel.
Neither Hilarion nor his driver were formally charged, and both were released without bail or travel restrictions. At the same time, forensic testing reportedly confirmed that narcotics were found in the trunk of his vehicle.

15 people were injured as a result of a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia.

Russia launched 163 drones against Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 150 of them.
Another eight strike UAVs hit targets in seven different locations. Among the targets was Chernihiv, where around 15 explosions were heard overnight and an enterprise was damaged. Residential buildings in the region were also hit.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, six people were injured in Russian attacks, including a 17-year-old boy. Later in the morning, Russian forces struck a civilian car in Kherson, injuring a 65-year-old man.

Article by Frank Gardner. Includes piece to camera spelling out that the critical national infrastructure Russia is targeting includes undersea data cables, undersea energy pipelines.

Almost 500,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, GCHQ says
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g44gprnnvo
Speaking from Bletchley Park, the home of code-breaking during World War Two, Keast-Butler singled out Russia for "targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust".

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Exclusive: Zelensky sends Trump urgent letter warning of Ukraine’s critical missile defense shortages
President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump warning about Ukraine’s worsening shortage of air defense systems, particularly anti-ballistic missile capabilities, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kaupo Rosin, director general of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, about Russia’s long-term strategy against Ukraine and Europe, the risks facing NATO’s eastern flank, and why Moscow still views the United States as its main adversary.

Ukraine fails to pass IMF-backed reforms, despite millions of dollars on the line
Ukraine’s access to billions in much-needed cash is once again hanging in the balance as lawmakers stumble on reforms.
Having already missed deadlines on a long list of legislation required by the European Union, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, Ukraine’s parliament made limited progress during a plenary session on May 26 and 27 — failing to pass a new IMF tax and withdrawing other bills at the last minute for fear of a lack of votes, said lawmakers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️Norway opens talks on joining French nuclear deterrence initiative.
The move comes as European countries seek to strengthen regional defense cooperation amid growing uncertainty about U.S. security commitments.

⚡️Ukraine strikes Tuapse oil refinery again, hits Russian military targets, General Staff says.

⚡️UK spy chief reveals new estimate of Russia's losses in Ukraine.
Anne Keast-Butler, who serves as director of the U.K's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), cited "new intelligence" in reporting the figures on May 27.

Are foreign embassies evacuating from Kyiv after Russian threats?
No foreign embassies in Kyiv have decided to evacuate staff following Russian threats of new attacks on the Ukrainian capital, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

⚡️Pope Leo condemns Russian strikes on Ukraine, calls for end to 'sharp intensification' of war.

⚡️Russian strike on Kherson playground kills father, injures family.
The injured included a 36-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages 3 and 6. The girls' father was also killed in the attack, police later confirmed.

⚡️Russian attacks kill 2, injure 23 across Ukraine over past day as Kherson strike devastates family.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — MAY 28, 2026
■ 2nd highest number of engagements since the start of the war with high casualties; 🇷🇺 gains of 24 km² confirmed
■ Equipment losses below average; seven APVs hit
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks included one Kinzhal missile; excellent drone interception rate
■ 7 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 160 🇺🇦 drones launched into 🇷🇺; 🇷🇺 MLRS strikes above average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Ukraine is launching a program of “logistical lockdown” against the Russian army and scaling up strikes on enemy rear positions, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
The program предусматривает expanding middle-strike operations against Russian logistics, warehouses, equipment, and command posts in the operational rear.
For this purpose, the state has allocated an additional 5 billion UAH for the purchase of modern strike systems for the most effective brigades and units. At the same time, centralized tenders for large batches of middle-strike systems will be launched.

❗️Russia poses a threat to Britain’s critical infrastructure and democracy, British intelligence says.
According to the text of a speech by Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Director Anne Keast-Butler, the country has entered “a new era of radical uncertainty,” while the risk of miscalculation amid cyberattacks from Russia and China has reached a record high.
British intelligence warned that Russia is threatening the country’s infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains, and public trust, effectively waging a hybrid war against Britain and Europe.
“In the face of such aggression and chaos, GCHQ is working tirelessly together with our intelligence and defense partners to minimize the threat from Russia… While we continue to steadfastly support Ukraine, Putin is stepping up activity on the battlefield,” Keast-Butler said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Sweden on an official visit, where he is expected to discuss a new large-scale defense package for Ukraine with partners.
According to the president, the talks will also include an important step regarding Gripen fighter jets, which are expected to strengthen the effectiveness of Ukrainian combat aviation.

❗️Ukraine is receiving increasing amounts of internal Russian information indicating preparations for additional mobilization in the aggressor state, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov.
“First and foremost, this is aimed at compensating for the especially heavy losses of the Russian army in the occupied territory of Ukraine.
Russia’s political leadership has tasked the military with increasing the size of the occupation contingent. We are talking about at least tens of thousands of additional personnel.
We also have information about a further expansion of mobilization efforts — this is why the Russian authorities have intensified the issuance of so-called mobilization notices.

Norway will join France’s nuclear deterrence initiative, Reuters reports.
France — the EU’s only nuclear power — introduced the initiative in March. Under the program, participating countries may temporarily host French strategic air forces.
According to Reuters, eight countries have already joined the initiative: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

🛢 One of the largest buyers of Russian oil is sharply reducing imports to their lowest level in 18 months, Reuters reports.
According to analysts, Türkiye will cut imports of Russian Urals crude in May to around 161,000 barrels per day, compared with more than 300,000 barrels per day a year ago.
Reuters notes that Ankara is reducing purchases due to rising prices for Russian oil and shrinking discounts that Turkish buyers had become accustomed to since the start of the war.
At the same time, Russia is increasingly redirecting oil exports to Asia, primarily India.

Footage has emerged of tests of an Estonian interceptor drone equipped with a rocket booster in Ukraine.
The manufacturer, Alatyr Group, says the interceptor drone is capable of engaging targets traveling at speeds of up to 500 km/h.

After the Russian strike on May 24, about 30 surviving exhibits were recovered from under the rubble of the Chornobyl Museum.

The enemy continues targeting farmers in the Chernihiv region — a drone struck the territory of a farm, killing a woman and injuring a man, the State Emergency Service reported.

Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who was killed in Russian captivity, suffered a fractured occipital bone while being held in the Taganrog pre-trial detention center, according to Ukraine’s National Police.
Deputy Head of the National Police Department Dmytro Shevchuk told a parliamentary commission investigating Russian crimes against the media that Russian authorities systematically subjected Roshchyna to violence because she demanded proper detention conditions and refused to sing the Russian anthem.
According to him, the Ukrainian journalist was held in cell No. 124 under unsanitary conditions, without hot water, with only three minutes allocated for meals, and a ban on sitting or lying down during the day.
Shevchuk added that when Roshchyna was later transferred to the Kyzyl detention center, she was already in critical condition and required constant medical care.
At the same time, he said the detention center administration was aware of her serious condition but continued to keep her in circumstances that further worsened her health.

Jesus Christ, seeing the footage of the pool of blood soaking into the ground under a child's swing (guess where the father died) and the blood covered child being rushed to hospital is heartbreaking.

FUCK Russia and its evil.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukraine says it is ready to buy more Patriot air defense systems as Zelensky warned Russia is preparing a new wave of “terror strikes” across the country.
The Ukrainian president appealed directly to Trump and Congress for urgent support, stressing that Kyiv remains heavily dependent on US-made Patriots to stop Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Zelensky has submitted a bill to ratify up to €90 billion in EU financial assistance for 2026–2027, including funding for weapons, Ukraine’s defense industry and budget support.
The package is also tied to major tax and economic reforms required by Brussels.

The next six months could decide the course of Russia’s war against Ukraine, a Ukrainian general warned.
Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky said Moscow’s forces are becoming increasingly exhausted and may soon lose the battlefield initiative.

Ukraine may be preparing for two to three more years of war, according to a report by The Economist citing battlefield resilience and expanding drone warfare.
However, Zelensky adviser Dmytro Lytvyn rejected the claim as an “old leak,” while the prospects for peace talks remain uncertain.

Air defense systems are now appearing on rooftops across Moscow as Russia tightens security amid growing fears of Ukrainian drone strikes. https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/36859

Europe fears Putin could widen the war beyond Ukraine to justify a fresh mobilization drive and ramp up pressure on NATO.
The warning comes amid Russian nuclear drills in Belarus, threats toward the Baltic states and mounting battlefield losses.

Ukraine’s first dedicated infrastructure investment fund has secured $240 million from major international backers.
Dragon Capital and Amber Infrastructure said the fund will target Ukraine’s energy, transport and digital sectors, with the first investments expected soon.

Ukraine has started paying businesses to help cover war-risk insurance costs as Kyiv tries to keep the economy running despite Russia’s attacks.
The first four companies received compensation cutting their effective insurance rate from 4.24% to just 1.19%.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇭🇺 Hungary’s parliament has canceled the country’s planned withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.
Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC on April 3, 2025. On the same day, despite an arrest warrant issued by the court, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary on an official visit. The following month, Hungary’s parliament voted to leave the ICC, formally starting the withdrawal process.
Hungary had been expected to fully exit the court in June, but new Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he would halt the process. According to him, holding those responsible for the most serious international crimes accountable is essential for maintaining international peace, security, and human rights.
▪️The ICC has issued arrest warrants for six senior Russian officials over the deportation of Ukrainian children and strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Among them is Vladimir Putin. [A ray of light!]

🇭🇺 New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he is ready to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy only after progress is made on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.
According to Magyar, Budapest has already begun technical consultations with Ukraine on language and other rights for ethnic Hungarians in the Transcarpathian region. He expressed hope that the talks will conclude quickly, after which a meeting with Zelenskyy could take place in Berehove.

💥 In Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod, a drone crashed into the regional court building. Online reports suggest it may have happened due to electronic warfare interference.

Russia launched a Kinzhal missile and 147 attack drones against Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 138 UAVs.
The aeroballistic missile and nine drones struck targets in seven different locations. Among the areas attacked by drones was southern Odesa region, where residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were damaged.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were injured as a result of the attacks. In Poltava region, falling debris damaged homes and outbuildings.

also:
⚡️BREAKING: Sweden announces 16 Gripens for Ukraine.
The transfer would further expand Ukraine's fleet of Western-supplied fighter aircraft, which already includes American F-16s and French Mirage 2000s but remains insufficient to fully defend Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from daily Russian missile and drone attacks.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US, Iran reach 60-day ceasefire deal reopening Strait of Hormuz, sources say.
The deal is still pending U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval, U.S. officials said.

⚡️US lawmakers support Ukraine's request for additional air defense.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said he expected the United States to support Ukraine's request.

⚡️IAEA reports communications blackout at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The plant lost both landline and internet connections for about 12 hours on May 27, marking the longest such outage since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

⚡️ Ukraine’s parliament gives final sign-off on EU loan, first payment expected mid-June.
“I am grateful to all the MPs who so promptly ratified the agreement,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the vote.

⚡️Drone reportedly strikes residential building in Romania.

Ukraine’s path to EU runs through this small Hungarian community in Carpathians
Soon after taking office, Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar appeared ready to normalize bilateral relations with Ukraine.
Soon, however, the newly elected prime minister played his predecessor’s tune, declaring that the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast “lacks basic rights,” and complaining that its linguistic and cultural freedoms are being curtailed.

⚡️ Armenia election pitches Putin against Trump.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will “help our wonderful American energy companies gain access from Central Asia all the way to the United States,” Trump wrote.

⚡️ Russia deploys new Pantsir systems on Moscow rooftops as Ukrainian drone threat grows.

⚡️ 3 Russian shadow fleet tankers attacked by drones near Turkey’s Black Sea coast.
Three oil tankers previously identified as belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet were attacked by drones in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey on May 28, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Tribeca shipping agency.

⚡️Russian oil refinery reportedly struck by Ukrainian drones in Volgograd.

Exclusive: How US ambassador's preplanned trip caused a diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels
The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on May 28 that the U.S. embassy was the only foreign mission to evacuate Kyiv following Russian threats of a major strike.
"What we heard from Ukraine yesterday was that all the embassies stayed, except one, so that also takes courage from those embassies, but yes, all the Europeans stayed, America left," Kallas told reporters.
The claim was false, soon denied by Washington, and retracted by Brussels, fueling confusion over what actually happened.

Meet Olha Kobylianska, the Ukrainian author who redefined women’s freedom
Today, as Ukraine fights to preserve its sovereignty and cultural identity, Olha Kobylianska’s work resonates with even greater force.
Her insistence on women’s intellectual autonomy, her refusal of imperial cultural hierarchies, and her commitment to developing Ukrainian literature on its own terms rather than as a provincial echo of Russian or German models all speak directly to contemporary Ukrainian struggles for self-determination.'

Kyiv Independent now publishing Letters to the Editor
The Kyiv Independent is introducing a new format within its Opinion section: Letters to the Editor, giving our readers a direct way to contribute to the stories we cover or highlight ideas worth attention.

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 27, hit Turkish ship over past day.
"Russia continues to deliberately threaten international maritime transport by attacking civilian infrastructure and merchant ships," Ukraine's Navy said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬

⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — MAY 29, 2026
■ Engagements slightly above average but casualties below average; no confirmed territorial changes
Losses of land-based equipment well above average; drone losses slightly above average
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: one Iskander-M missile used; excellent drone interception rate
■ Only 1 🇺🇦 strike reported; 250 🇺🇦 drones launched into 🇷🇺; 🇷🇺 MLRS and air strikes above average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

⚡️President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Ukraine could receive its first Gripen fighter jets with Ukrainian pilots in December or January.
According to him, the pilots have already begun training flights, and Kyiv is awaiting the expansion of the training infrastructure.
The president stressed that the main task now is to increase the number of pilots who can be sent for training.
At the same time, he noted that this remains a difficult challenge, as these pilots are currently carrying out combat missions and defending Ukraine’s airspace.

Overnight on May 29, a Russian drone crashed into a residential high-rise building in the Romanian city of Galați, striking an apartment on the 10th floor. The impact sparked a fire that left two people injured.
Russia launched a drone attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine near the border, and one of the drones entered Romanian airspace.
Local authorities said a woman suffered first-degree burns in the explosion, while a 14-year-old boy experienced an acute stress reaction. Both were hospitalized. Around 70 residents were evacuated from the building.

🇷🇴 Romanian President Nicușor Dan has announced “proportionate measures” against Russia following the drone incident in Galați.
Dan stated that full responsibility for the incident lies entirely with Russia.
According to him, the incident in Galați is a direct consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s irresponsible and indiscriminate use of weapons near NATO borders and its systematic disregard for international law.

Earlier, Romania’s Ministry of Defense reported that a Russian Geran-2 drone struck a residential building in Galați and exploded, causing casualties.

🇺🇦🇪🇺 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas outlined what the European Union could demand from Russia in potential negotiations on Ukraine.
She stressed that the talks should also address the issue of Russian troops in Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
“Russia must respect international agreements in which it pledged not to attack its neighbors and to respect their sovereignty. But there are other issues as well. For example, mirroring the concessions Russia demanded from Ukraine. If they talk about reducing armed forces, this should also apply to Russia.
And, of course, the presence of Russian troops in Moldova and Georgia is a major concern. In the interests of European security, these troops should not be there. Russia also should not interfere in elections in other countries,” Kallas said.
She added that the presence of Russian troops in Moldova and Georgia poses a threat to European security.
Kallas also confirmed that the EU will not appoint a separate chief negotiator for talks with Putin in order not to “fall into the trap” of Russian demands.

🤡 Sergei Lavrov and Maria Zakharova responded harshly to Kaja Kallas’ remarks about possible military-related demands toward Russia in future negotiations on Ukraine.

🇸🇪🇺🇦 Sweden has allocated a new military aid package for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.
“This support opens a new level for us in saving lives, protecting our cities, and defending our communities. This package, worth $2.7 billion, includes various components,” the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, the package includes nearly $400 million for drone production.

❗️Russian guided aerial bombs remain a serious challenge for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“We are talking about thousands, not even hundreds, of bombs every month. Their aircraft launch guided bombs both from Russian territory and from temporarily occupied territories at distances of more than 100 kilometers. We have never had enough air defense systems capable of intercepting such bombs,” the president noted.
According to Zelenskyy, Gripen fighter jets equipped with appropriate weapons — in particular Meteor missiles, which can engage targets at ranges exceeding 200 kilometers — will help push Russian aircraft farther from the front line, making the mass use of guided aerial bombs much more difficult.

🇱🇻 Latvia has begun installing “dragon’s teeth” fortifications along the border with Russia as part of the Baltic Defense Line.
According to LSM, the structures are being placed in several rows across a strip about 10 meters wide. Each concrete element weighs more than one and a half tons, and their configuration is designed to block the movement of military vehicles.
Preparations for the project have been underway since 2024, while installation began in 2025 following the adoption of a law on land expropriation that accelerated the resolution of private property issues. Landowners are expected to receive compensation.

Ukrainian investigators have published new findings from the wreckage of a Russian ballistic missile that struck an industrial zone near Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region overnight on May 23–24, revealing inert warhead simulators instead of explosive payloads and exposing new details about the missile’s internal design, according to Defence Blog on May 28.
According to Defence Blog, Russia launched the RS-26 Rubezh missile, promoted by Moscow under the name Oreshnik, from the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan region.
What the missile carried may be more important than where it landed. According to Ukrainian analysis, the Oreshnik was fitted with inert simulators—metal and concrete blocks with no explosive content. Ukraine’s military has identified the same configuration in all three known combat uses of the system.
Details on what’s inside: https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukraine-opened-russias-notorious-oreshnik-missile-heres-whats-inside-19269

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would like Ukraine to receive a license to produce PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
“I began this conversation with President Biden and will continue it with President Trump. I believe that in the future we will either receive a license or develop our own anti-ballistic system,” Zelenskyy said during a visit to Sweden.

❗️Russia attacked the Turkish dry cargo ship ANT with drones while it was en route from a port in the Odesa region to Türkiye, leaving people injured, according to the Ukrainian Navy.
The vessel, sailing under the flag of Vanuatu, was carrying cargo when it came under attack.
The strike hit the ship’s superstructure, causing a fire that was quickly brought under control.
Two injured crew members were promptly evacuated by Ukrainian Navy boats and taken to hospital.

Two enemy Geran drones destroyed a school in a village of the Semenivka community overnight, according to Chernihiv regional governor Viacheslav Chaus.
“Children there had been studying remotely.

🕯 In the Sumy region, a Russian drone struck a scooter, killing both the driver and passenger, according to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov.
“The day before, a 65-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman were traveling by scooter between settlements in the Velyka Pysarivka community.
At that moment, a Russian drone targeted them.
They died at the scene from the severe injuries they sustained,” Hryhorov said. [Because nothing says heroism like killing OAPS on a scooter]

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukraine is strengthening its entire border with Belarus, with new engineering works along the frontier and deeper fortifications behind it.
Officials say the whole 1,085-kilometer line is already protected, but construction is expanding as Kyiv prepares for possible Russian escalation from the north.

Japan will send military officers to NATO’s Ukraine command in Wiesbaden, Germany, for the first time, according to The Japan Times.
Four Japanese officers will help coordinate military aid deliveries and training programs for Ukrainian forces.

NATO is convening an emergency meeting after a Russian drone struck a residential apartment building in Romania, injuring two people.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed the incident will be discussed at a joint NATO session, while Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned Russia’s “reckless behavior,” warning it poses a threat to the entire alliance.

Russia’s war bill could blow a $28 BILLION hole in the Kremlin’s budget this year.
A leaked report says Moscow may overspend its military budget by 2 trillion rubles, forcing spending freezes elsewhere as Putin pours record sums into the war machine.

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has suffered its 16th total blackout since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to the IAEA, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost all external power overnight, forcing emergency diesel generators to activate and keep critical safety systems running until electricity was restored.

Ukraine’s UN envoy Andriy Melnyk accused Russia of inventing a false victimhood narrative over the alleged Starobilsk dormitory strike, saying Moscow’s own published list showed no children among the named victims.
He also condemned Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv, warned Belarus against deeper involvement in the war, and urged partners to increase air-defense support tenfold.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Russia’s intensifying strikes on Ukraine risk pushing the war into a dangerous new phase.
The UN rights office recorded a 21 percent rise in civilian casualties in the first four months of 2026.

Putin and Kazakhstan’s Tokayev have signed a new “7 Principles of Friendship” pact during the Kremlin leader’s visit to Astana.
The declaration stresses closer economic ties, Eurasian integration and a shared historical and cultural space between Russia and Kazakhstan.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia should face the same military restrictions it demands from Ukraine in any future peace deal.
Kallas called Moscow’s demands “maximalist” and warned Russian troops in Georgia and Moldova remain a threat to European security.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Budapest will not send weapons or military aid to Ukraine.
His government also confirmed preparations for a meeting with Zelensky, linking it to demands regarding Hungary’s minority in Ukraine.

Ukrainian gymnasts refused to listen to the Russian and Belarusian national anthems during the medal ceremony at the Junior European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Varna, Bulgaria.
Bronze medalist Varvara Chubarova and silver medalist Sofiia Krainska put on headphones and covered their eyes while the anthems of Russia and Belarus were played, in a visible act of protest

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇳 The UN has for the first time added Russia to its annual blacklist of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.
The organization confirmed at least 310 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian forces and on occupied Ukrainian territories against prisoners of war. Most of the victims were men.

According to the UN report, sexual violence was used as a form of torture and psychological pressure against both POWs and civilians.
The UN also added Israel to the blacklist for the first time this year over sexual violence against Palestinians between 2023 and 2025, The Washington Post reports.
▪️According to the UN, the number of cases of conflict-related sexual violence worldwide has increased by 87% over the past two years.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) says it is blocking Russia’s Crimea–Donetsk corridor and targeting military equipment along the highway section between Berdiansk, Melitopol, and Dzhankoi.
The agency released footage showing burning Russian fuel tankers, trucks, and a heavy equipment transporter after the strikes.

Ukrainian air defense neutralized 217 out of 233 Russian drones overnight.
Russia also launched an Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missile at Ukraine. Impacts of the missile and 14 UAVs were recorded at 14 locations, while drone debris fell in 7 additional areas.
▪️In Zaporizhzhia, three women were injured. Four apartment buildings and several non-residential structures were damaged.
▪️In Dnipropetrovsk region, three districts came under attack. In Nikopol district, one person was seriously injured.
▪️In Chernihiv region, Russian drones destroyed a school in a village of the Semenivka community. In a village in Korukivka district, four residential houses burned down.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-28-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin has likely developed a false perception of the Russian military’s successes in Ukraine based on heavily exaggerated maps from the Russian high military command.
2. The Russian military command’s exaggerated claims about the Kupyansk area since late Summer 2025 show a larger pattern within the Russian military of misrepresenting the battlefield geometry at the highest levels.
3. The Russian military command’s exaggerations are likely leading Putin to believe his forces can achieve his battlefield goals in the near to medium term, despite the fact that Russia’s battlefield performance has steadily declined in 2026.
4. Russian forces are reinforcing air defenses in Moscow City in response to Ukraine’s growing long-range drone campaign against the Russian deep rear.
5. Russia continues to struggle to defend against Ukraine’s mid-range strike campaign and is reportedly resorting to war crimes to protect Russian military vehicles in the rear.
6. Sweden pledged a total of 36 Gripen fighter aircraft to Ukraine in a large military support package on May 28.
7. Zelensky stated that the Gripens will help Ukraine defend against Russian guided glide bombs.
8. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern in the Velykyi Burluk and Oleksandrivka directions. Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast.
9. Russian forces launched one Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and 147 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-29-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. A Russian Geran-2 drone struck a multi-story apartment complex in Galati, Romania, on the evening of May 28-29.
2. Senior Kremlin officials are leaning into two separate responses to the drone strike in Romania that together aim to deflect Russia’s responsibility for the drone incident, falsely blame Ukraine, and test NATO’s response to Russian drone incursions.
3. Russia is reportedly allowing private businesses to purchase air defense and counter-drone systems as Russia seeks to offset the cost of its increased air defense needs on Russian federal subjects and entities outside of the federal government.
4. A Russian state-owned polling institution indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings fell again following a slight increase that interrupted weeks of falling approval ratings.
5. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
6. Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile/S-400 air defense missile, and 232 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Zelensky meets top officials, announces preparation for 'important negotiations' ahead.
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a special meeting with three of his top officials on May 30 to discuss key steps in the near future, including "important negotiations."

⚡️New territory reported liberated as Ukraine makes fresh offensive push on southern front.
According to the May 29 update of Deep State's map, the village of Novoselivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has been liberated from Russian occupation.

⚡️Japan buys over $14 million in military equipment for Ukraine under NATO weapons program.
Japan's contribution to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative is limited to non-lethal aid.

⚡️Hungary's Magyar secures frozen EU money, Ukraine issues remain stuck.
"If I return every time with this amount of money, I might come back more often," Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar quipped during the press conference in Brussels.

⚡️UN blacklists Russian forces over sexual violence against Ukrainian POWs, civilian detainees.
The victims were prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian detainees, the vast majority of them men, the report said.

⚡️Ukraine aligns sanctions with EU's 20th package against Russia as Zelensky signs decrees.
According to the Presidential Office, the sanctions list includes executives of Russian defense enterprises, military personnel, and collaborators who have cooperated with Russian occupation authorities in Ukrainian territories seized by the Kremlin.

⚡️Oreshnik missile 'isn't cutting-edge' as Russia claims, Ukraine says after examining parts.
An examination of the wreckage of a Russian Oreshnik missile shows it contains crucial components manufactured before 2016, rubbishing the Kremlin's 2024 claims that it was a completely new weapon, Ukrainian experts say.

⚡️Ukrainian military destroy two Russian Tu-142 naval aircraft, Iskander missile system on Black Sea coast.
The Iskander and two Tu-142 aircraft were targeted at a military airfield in Russia's Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi reported.

At NATO's Aurora 2026 military exercises in Sweden, a group of Ukrainian drone pilots was tasked with playing the role of attackers. Ukrainian teams repeatedly disrupted NATO maneuvers, forcing parts of the exercise to be restarted. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell spoke with drone pilots from Ukraine's 20th National Guard "Lubart" Brigade, part of the 1st Azov Corps, shortly after they returned from Sweden. Drawing on years of battlefield experience fighting Russia's full-scale invasion, the pilots explain how they exposed weaknesses in NATO's approach to drone warfare, what Western militaries are still struggling to adapt to, and how Ukraine can make the alliance stronger.

⚡️Zelensky's decision to name military unit after WWII-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army sparks outrage in Poland.
The decree entered into force on May 26 and was adopted "with the aim of reviving the historical traditions of the national army," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Update: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responds to Polish outrage over military unit title.
"Our history confirms that only Moscow benefits from disputes between Ukrainians and Poles. ... By initiating the awarding of an honorary title to their unit, our soldiers certainly did not intend to offend the friendly Polish people," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on May 29.

⚡️Russian attacks kill 5, injure 40 across Ukraine over past day, destroy train station in Sumy Oblast.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — MAY 30, 2026
■ Engagements above average and massive casualties; no confirmed territorial changes
■ Record losses of land-based equipment and unarmored vehicles
🇷🇺 overnight attacks: excellent drone interception rate; 5 of 6 missiles shot down
■ 16 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 210 🇺🇦 drones launched into 🇷🇺; 🇷🇺 air strikes above average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Russia wanted to bring up to 100,000 voters to Armenia to help unseat Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the elections, Reuters reports.
According to the agency, Russian officials discussed organizing the transportation of Armenians living in Russia to Armenia so they could vote against the incumbent prime minister.
Reuters sources claim that the Kremlin even calculated the cost of such an operation — approximately $50 million — and distributed quotas among Russian regions based on the number of potential voters.
The report also says that Moscow has intensified disinformation campaigns against Pashinyan and engaged organizations previously linked to election interference and anti-Ukrainian political activities.
Pashinyan remains the frontrunner ahead of the election. According to the latest polls, his party could receive around 30% of the vote, while the party of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who is considered close to Moscow, is polling at about 6%.

🥴 EAEU countries have given Armenia an ultimatum: choose between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have called on Yerevan to hold a referendum as soon as possible and decide whether it wants to pursue EU integration or remain a member of the EAEU.
The member states also announced plans to prepare a report by December on the consequences of a possible suspension of Armenia’s participation in the Eurasian Economic Union.
According to the EAEU, Armenia’s course toward integration with the EU creates risks for the union’s economic security.
Armenia’s relations with Russia deteriorated sharply after Moscow effectively failed to assist Yerevan during the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Following those events, Armenia began distancing itself from Russian-led structures, froze its participation in the CSTO, and intensified cooperation with the EU and the United States.
In 2025, the Armenian parliament passed a law launching the country’s European integration process, and in 2026 Yerevan further expanded its contacts with Western partners.
Against this backdrop, Moscow first warned Armenia about the possible loss of preferential gas and fuel supplies and is now, through the EAEU, demanding that Yerevan choose between the European Union and the Russian-led bloc.

War is consuming Russia’s budget faster than the Kremlin had planned, the Financial Times reports.
According to the publication, spending on the war against Ukraine this year could exceed the planned level by at least 2 trillion rubles ($28 billion), and in the worst-case scenario by as much as 4 trillion rubles.
Russia is currently allocating nearly 40% of its federal budget to defense and security, but even that is reportedly no longer sufficient. During the first four months of the year, the budget deficit reached 5.9 trillion rubles — more than the authorities had initially expected to collect for the entire year.
Against the backdrop of rising military expenditures, discussions about cutting other areas of spending are becoming more frequent in Russia, and some officials are now openly linking the country’s economic difficulties to the war against Ukraine.

💶 Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance and the World Bank have signed an agreement on a €236 million loan backed by a Swedish guarantee.
The funds will be transferred to the general fund of the state budget in the near future and will be used to cover key social expenditures.

🇷🇴🇺🇦 Ukraine is ready to provide Romania with any necessary support, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

🇷🇴💥 Romania may sign air defense agreements with Ukraine and Moldova, according to an ISW analysis.
Commenting on the Russian drone strike that hit a building in Galați, Brigadier General Gheorghe Maxim said the drone remained in Romanian airspace for only four minutes after crossing the border.
According to him, that was not enough time to identify the target and safely destroy it over Romanian territory.
He also noted that Romania’s air defense systems cannot engage enemy targets in a way that would affect the airspace of a neighboring country, including launchi

Another Russian oil industry facility has been reached — this time in Armavir, Krasnodar Krai, about 500 kilometers from Ukraine’s state border, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

🛩 The first batch of Gripen fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine within 10 months, together with Meteor long-range missiles, according to the Ministry of Defense.
“This will provide the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with greater capabilities to counter Russian aircraft carrying guided aerial bombs,” the ministry said.
Guided aerial bombs remain one of the biggest challenges for Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Russian tactical aircraft — primarily Su-34s and Su-35s — launch these bombs while remaining beyond the reach of much of Ukraine’s aviation and air defense.
The situation is expected to change with the introduction of Meteor air-to-air missiles, which are powered by ramjet engines and have a maximum engagement range of up to 200 kilometers.

Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he expects a representative of French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Belarus next week.
According to Lukashenko, during a recent conversation with Macron, the two agreed that issues of European security should be resolved by Europeans themselves.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on NATO to take Dmitry Medvedev’s threats seriously.
Commenting on Medvedev’s statement that Europeans would no longer be able to “sleep peacefully,” Tusk said:

“Poland, the Baltic states, and now Romania. More and more Russian provocations. Yesterday, former President Medvedev declared that the peaceful sleep of EU citizens is over. Everyone in NATO should finally start taking these facts and words seriously.”

💥 The Special Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck the 16th FSB Center, which is responsible for signals intelligence and electronic surveillance.
According to reports, the drone attack disabled key facilities at the site.
The command center is located in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory. It was reportedly used to guide missiles and drones targeting Ukraine, as well as to intercept signals from foreign satellites.

🏆 Ukrainian film “2000 Meters to Andriivka” wins prestigious Emmy Award
The documentary by journalist and director Mstyslav Chernov, who won an Oscar for “20 Days in Mariupol,” received the News & Documentary Emmy Award for Best Directing for a Documentary Feature. The film was nominated in six categories.

❤️‍🩹👏 A seriously wounded Ukrainian defender who spent three days making his way through enemy positions after being injured has won a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament following two years of rehabilitation.
The story of Ukrainian soldier Pavlo Pryadka’s rescue, shared by his coach Oleksandr Zhuravlev, has gone viral online.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Zelensky has warned that Russia may be preparing another massive missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
Citing fresh intelligence, he urged allies to speed up air defense deliveries and tighten sanctions on Moscow before the next wave of attacks begins.

Romania is shutting down Russia’s Consulate General in Constanța after a Russian drone crashed into a residential building and injured two people.
President Nicușor Dan said Moscow bears full responsibility for the incident. Romania has also declared Russia’s consul general persona non grata, Digi 24 reported.

Putin says he was briefed on the drone that crashed into a residential building in Romania — but claims he has no idea whose drone it was.
“I don’t know what kind of drone exploded in Romania. Let them send us the wreckage,” Putin said.

Polish President Nawrocki plans to ask the chapter of the Order of the White Eagle to consider stripping President Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honor.
The move comes after Ukraine named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), reigniting longstanding tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv over the legacy of WWII-era nationalist movements.

US President Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser, Mark Burns, said the views of US conservatives and Republicans on the war in Ukraine are changing, adding that more and more people in Washington understand that reaching agreements with Russia is impossible.

The UN has blacklisted Russian armed and security forces for conflict-related sexual violence for the first time.
Investigators documented 310 cases in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including rape and torture of prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for “consultations” amid Yerevan’s growing ties with Europe.
The move comes shortly after Vladimir Putin warned that Armenia could face a “Ukrainian scenario” because of its European integration ambitions.
Moscow has also threatened economic measures if Armenia continues deepening cooperation with the European Union. Earlier this week, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it could suspend or terminate agreements covering the supply of gas, fuel, and rough diamonds.

Ukraine possesses drones capable of flying up to 3,500 kilometers, according to “Vector,” the commander of a long-range drone unit within Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), in an interview with Channel 24.
At present, the longest-range confirmed Ukrainian strike is considered to be the SBU’s attack on the Ukhta oil refinery in Russia’s Komi Republic in February. The facility is located approximately 1,750 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
If the reported 3,500-kilometer range is accurate, it would mean Ukrainian drones could reach deep into Siberia, potentially striking targets as far away as the vicinity of Krasnoyarsk.

Ukrainian forces struck Lukoil’s Volgograd oil refinery, reportedly hitting oil-processing units.
A fire broke out at the facility after the strike, and the refinery suspended operations. The Volgograd refinery is one of the largest in southern Russia, processing around 14 million tons of oil annually. It produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, including supplies for the Russian military.
Other targets reportedly hit by Ukrainian forces include:
🔴the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station — two oil storage tanks with capacities of 50,000 m³ and 20,000 m³ are reportedly burning;
🔴a Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system in Zaporizhzhia region;
🔴a Russian warehouse in Luhansk region;
🔴a command post and several Russian UAV control centers.
Ukrainian forces also carried out strikes against Russian troops in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk regions, and Russia’s Kursk region.

Russian forces destroyed the railway station in Shostka and damaged the surrounding railway infrastructure.
The station building was reportedly hit directly by multiple kamikaze drones.
No casualties among workers or passengers were reported, as people were sheltering in protective facilities during the attack.

Russian forces attacked Donetsk, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk regions — casualties were reported. Here’s what is known so far:
🔴Donetsk region: One person was injured in the strikes. A fire broke out and was later extinguished.
🔴Dnipropetrovsk region: Six people were injured. Apartment buildings and vehicles were damaged.
🔴Kherson region: Russian forces attacked Kherson, injuring nine people. Residential buildings and cars were damaged.

Russian forces attacked Donetsk, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk regions — casualties were reported. Here’s what is known so far:
🔴Donetsk region: One person was injured in the strikes. A fire broke out and was later extinguished.
🔴Dnipropetrovsk region: Six people were injured. Apartment buildings and vehicles were damaged.
🔴Kherson region: Russian forces attacked Kherson, injuring nine people. Residential buildings and cars were damaged.

US President Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser, Mark Burns, said the views of US conservatives and Republicans on the war in Ukraine are changing, adding that more and more people in Washington understand that reaching agreements with Russia is impossible.

Trump has a spiritual advisor? Does this imply he has a working soul?

Good news if true, though.

Burns is a bit of an oddball, but he’s very actively supporting Ukraine in American political circles. He visited Ukraine and saw firsthand what the Russians have done.

I hope very much that he is right rather than merely hopeful that something he wants may be happening, then.

He's done his best to bully, bribe, twist, torture and silence his soul but perhaps there's the odd twitch left in it.