Industrial hub on the Dnieper; Ukraine’s southeastern city
Several wildfires are burning across Georgia and the Southeast, with containment improving in Brantley County while others persist; authorities warn the battles will extend for days as drought and wind drive spread.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine "is coming to an end" and has offered to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country once a final peace treaty is agreed. The comments came as Russia and Ukraine have observed a short ceasefire and exchanged prisoners around Victory Day, while the Moscow parade has been scaled down over security concerns.
The conflict has escalated around commemorations with Ukraine and Russia each reporting attacks. Ukraine has proposed an open-ended ceasefire while Moscow has warned of a large-scale response if disruptions occur to Victory Day events. Civilian casualties are reported in several cities as the period of 8-9 May unfolds.
Ukraine has struck multiple oil facilities and fuel depots across southwestern Russia, expanding its long-range drone campaign. Reports indicate large fires and evacuations, with officials citing damage to civilian infrastructure and an IAEA-monitored situation at Zaporizhzhia. Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange strikes as both sides argue over targets and consequences.
The war in Ukraine is shifting. Ukrainian forces have tightened pressure on Russian positions in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, while Russia faces logistical strains and stalling advances. Kyiv is expanding long-range strikes, stressing Russian rear-area capabilities as Moscow maintains a systematic aerial campaign. Analysts warn that momentum is fragile and the next months will test both sides.
Ukraine has used long-range drones to hit strategic targets deep inside Russia this week, striking St Petersburg's oil terminal, the Kronstadt naval base and supply lines to occupied Crimea. Russian authorities have reported hundreds of intercepted drones, governors have ordered residents to shelter indoors, and Crimea is facing severe fuel shortages that are disrupting travel and tourism.
Scotland’s largest hospital maternity unit faces scrutiny as inspectors report delays in induction, hand hygiene concerns, and staff pressures. Families call for independent investigation while NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde works to restore safety and trust.
Putin has acknowledged economic damage from Ukrainian strikes but says Russia is recovering and that Kyiv's actions are meant to sow confusion. Ukraine claims to have targeted energy hubs and Crimea, while Moscow promises stronger air defences and a tougher response.
President Donald Trump has intervened to stop a major Israeli strike on Iran and has publicly rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing heavy operations in Lebanon. The intervention has strained a once-close US–Israeli relationship and has complicated US-led negotiations for a ceasefire and a limited nuclear agreement with Tehran. Tensions have erupted during talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ahead of Israeli elections.
Ukrainian forces have retaken territory along the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, with May gains marking a shift in momentum. Kyiv cites drone strikes and rear-area pressure as key factors, while Russia faces intensified counterattacks and logistical disruptions. International diplomacy continues, with calls for ceasefire talks and humanitarian safeguards.
Crimea has imposed a night curfew banning motorcycles, mopeds and similar vehicles from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am, citing risk to defence systems and public safety amid continuing Ukrainian drone attacks. Authorities say the measure targets night travel to protect military facilities and stabilize fuel supplies.
World leaders at the G7 summit promise to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses and energy resilience, while pledging new sanctions on Russia. Zelenskyy has said the alliance will support Ukraine’s defense and energy stability as Kyiv seeks EU negotiations and broad international pressure on Moscow.
Ukrainian drones have struck a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week, producing large fires, black smoke and reports of at least 16–17 wounded. Russian air defences have shot down hundreds of incoming drones across multiple regions, closed Moscow airports and prompted threats of "massive" Russian retaliation.
Ukrainian forces have targeted Russia’s Tyumen refinery in western Siberia with long-range drones, claiming to have bypassed thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Kyiv says the drones, developed by Fire Point, have reached Tyumen and other oil facilities, while Russia reports evacuation and no confirmed damage. The broader campaign targets Russia’s oil infrastructure amid ongoing hostilities.
The past 24 hours have seen a surge in drone strikes and air attacks across Ukraine and Russia, with casualties reported in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kherson, Odesa, and Crimea. Ukrainian and Russian authorities report strikes, interceptions, and disruptions to airports as the conflict intensifies in a broad front.
Ukraine has warned it may recalibrate its ceasefire offer if the UN Security Council delays a resolution calling for a full, unconditional end to hostilities. Kyiv says Russia’s war effort has faced disruptions, as strikes and drone attacks target both military and civilian sites. The war remains unresolved as Ukraine signals potential direct talks may resume, while international support and Russian responses continue to evolve.
Multiple drone strikes have hit Crimea and several Russian regions, causing fatalities and outages. Ukraine has intensified attacks on energy infrastructure, prompting power cuts and emergency responses across the peninsula and nearby areas.
The European-led response to Russia's shadow fleet has intensified, with France and Britain intercepting suspected vessels near Sicily as Kyiv reports further strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Zelensky has authorized a 40-day operation aimed at pressuring Moscow to end the war, while Moscow archives a substantial collection of Ukrainian books.
The Ukrainian Defence Forces are defending Kostyantynivka, with Kyiv disputing Moscow’s claim of occupation. Ukraine says the city remains under its control along defensive lines, while Russia asserts troops occupy all parts of the town. The back-and-forth follows strikes on Russian territory and Ukrainian attacks on infrastructure, underscoring a volatile Donbas frontline as both sides seek leverage in an ongoing war.
Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, with drones hitting St. Petersburg’s oil terminal and nearby port facilities. Officials report no casualties, while Kyiv says the action targets revenue for Moscow’s war. Putin labels energy strikes as not critical.
Over the past days, Ukrainian and Russian forces have exchanged drone and missile strikes. Belgorod reports casualties and infrastructure damage while Ukraine says it targeted strategic facilities in Russia. The conflict is escalating with reports of civilian casualties on both sides.
The United States has granted Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air-defence interceptors, addressing critical shortages but production will take months to years. Ukraine is pressing allies at NATO for faster and larger support amid ongoing Russian ballistic missile strikes that have damaged Kyiv and other cities.
Crimea’s power grid has faced a regionwide outage linked to external interference, with authorities citing an enemy attack on energy infrastructure outside Sevastopol. Power is being restored in phases, and casualties were reported in separate attacks as Ukrainian drone strikes target energy and transport assets.
Ukraine has struck oil depots and tankers across Russia, triggering a fuel shortage and rationing in multiple regions. Trump pledges Patriot licenses as Kyiv seeks faster domestic production.
The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, restoring Russian athletes' access to many international qualifiers ahead of Los Angeles 2028 while leaving decisions on flags, anthems and full national symbols unresolved. Several international federations, including World Athletics, are maintaining bans and legal challenges are being signalled.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s commander-in-chief after mass protests over the dismissal of reform-minded ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Drapatyi, 43, is being welcomed as a moderniser; Fedorov has refused offered alternatives and his supporters are continuing street demonstrations while Russia keeps striking Ukrainian cities.
A renewed round of Russian strikes targets Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Kyiv reports drone and missile attacks, drone production sites, and shelling that underline the ongoing tit-for-tat conflict. Ukrainian leaders have warned of further missile activity in the next 48 hours, as both sides mobilize resources and public support amid a volatile security backdrop.
UN rights monitors document a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of 2026 as Russia and Ukraine widen strikes. FPV drones are reshaping daily life near front lines, while attacks on shipping and oil depots widen the conflict’s reach.
Ukraine has expanded long-range drone strikes against Russia’s Wildberries warehouses, striking multiple hubs from Moscow to Saint Petersburg and Crimea. The attacks are part of a broader effort to disrupt Russia’s logistics and economy, with officials warning of financial strain on banks and businesses as the war continues.
A series of drone and missile incidents have escalated tensions across Ukraine and neighboring Romania. A large fire followed a drone strike on a civilian facility in Sumy region, while another strike hit a shopping center in Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv reports a major attack near a defense-industry site, with casualties and warnings of a possible large-scale missiles assault in the next 48 hours. Romania reports drones shot down near the border, marking ongoing regional drone incursions.
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit more Wildberries warehouses across Russia, while Moscow says it has downed hundreds of drones. The attacks are part of Kyiv’s long-range campaign to disrupt economic targets, with several sites damaged and casualties reported on both sides.
A soldier opened fire in Khmelnytske, Sevastopol, killing at least four people including two soldiers and three civilians before being detained. Ukraine-linked drone activity and strikes within Crimea are part of ongoing hostilities; authorities urge calm as investigations continue.