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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A firefighter from the State Emergency Service extinguishes a fire at a private enterprise damaged by an overnight Russian attack in Kharkiv Oblast on May 26, 2025. (Viacheslav Madiievskyi/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours. Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across multiple oblasts over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on May 26.
Secret note reveals Russia using Telegram bots to control drones attacking Ukraine, Economist reports. The new control algorithm was revealed in a note hidden inside one of the Russian drones, possibly left behind by a “sympathetic Russian engineer,” the Economist wrote.
Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had downed 148 Ukrainian drones since 10 a.m. local time on May 25 until 8 a.m. on May 26.
Intelligence shows Russia planning new offensive operations in Ukraine, Zelensky says. “There is no evidence that (the Russians) are seriously considering peace…On the contrary, there is a lot of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations.”
Russia occupies 4 border villages in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. Russian forces control the Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka communities, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said. “Residents of these villages were evacuated long ago, and there is no threat to civilians.”
Netherlands to send last of pledged 24 F-16s to Ukraine on May 26. “We are also training pilots and technicians and sharing our military doctrines, so that Ukraine can build a modern armed force that matches that of the NATO member states,” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.
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Russia can attack Europe 2-4 years after war’s end, faster with lifted sanctions, Ukrainian intel chief warns. “If the sanctions are lifted, the rearmament process will proceed much faster,” Ukrainian foreign intelligence (SZRU) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform.
Putin’s negotiator Dmitriev pushing for release of $280 billion in frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian intel chief says. “Dmitriev is trying to show the U.S. that let’s not focus on war and peace, let’s look at the bigger picture,” Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Oleh Ivashchenko said.
Ukraine captured almost 1,000 Russian soldiers during Kursk offensive, General Staff says. The military described the Kursk campaign as an “unexpected and asymmetric” move that helped fill the so-called “exchange fund” — Ukrainian terminology for captured Russian soldiers who can be traded for Ukrainian POWs.
‘We could not influence the list’ — Ukraine reacts to reported inclusion of alleged defector in prisoner swap with Russia. Ukrainian investigators are working to identify Anatolii Taranenko and verify the accusations raised against him, said Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW).
Ukraine secures release of POWs from units excluded from all previous swaps. As part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) reported on May 26.
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Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says
“There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the U.K., France, nor us. There are no restrictions by the U.S. either,” Merz said during a discussion forum organized by the WDR channel.
Photo: Omar Havana / Getty Images
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking the Kremlin’s ‘root causes’ claims
As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any truce.
Photo: Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
General Staff: Russia has lost 981,850 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,000 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
International response
Putin calls to ‘strangle’ Western companies still operating in Russia. “We should strangle them. I agree completely. I’m speaking without any shame, because they’re trying to strangle us,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Trump ‘realizes’ Putin lied about peace, massive Russian assault proves it, Macron says. “I think President Trump realizes that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he lied to him,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Kremlin blames Trump’s Putin comments on ’emotional overload.’ “This is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Trump calling Putin “absolutely crazy.”
‘Russia is not winning this war,’ EU defense commissioner says. European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the EU must be ready to defend Ukraine and itself with or without Washington’s backing.
Netherlands backs Zelensky’s presence at upcoming NATO summit. “We are looking at how we can get a place in the program for Zelensky and other Ukrainians,” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said during an appearance on the Dutch television program WNL op Zondag.
Germany may send Ukraine older PAC-2 missiles for Patriot air defenses, WP reports. A European diplomat in Kyiv said that Berlin plans to send older PAC-2 Patriot missiles, which are less effective at intercepting ballistic missiles than the newer PAC-3s.
Zelensky to visit Germany for talks with Merz, Der Spiegel reports. The meeting comes as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to promote European efforts to initiate further technical-level peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Latvia urges EU-wide halt to Russian visas over ‘security concerns.’ While some EU countries have restricted or halted visa issuance to Russian citizens, others have continued processing applications, keeping a legal pathway open for Russian travel to the bloc.
In other news
Nicusor Dan sworn in as Romania’s new president. In his address to lawmakers following the oath, Romanian President Nicusor Dan thanked citizens for their engagement in recent political debates, regardless of their stance.
Ukrainian media outlet launches first AI tool to let readers listen to articles from any line. Vector, a media platform focused on the creative economy, launched the new artificial intelligence-powered narration tool in partnership with Respeecher, the Ukrainian voice technology startup known for recreating the voices of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in major Hollywood productions.
Belarus has nuclear weapon delivery systems but no Russian warheads, intel chief says. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said the transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus was completed in October 2023.
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