The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Staff of the NGO Eastern SOS evacuate elderly civilians during an operation near the front-line town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast on May 5, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine strikes Russian drone control center in Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s General Staff says. As a result of the strike, up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed.
‘Meeting is clearly on the radar’ — Kremlin on potential Trump-Putin meeting. “It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington, which have been launched and are now ongoing,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
‘It’s a lot’ — Trump comments on Putin’s proposed 3-day truce. Putin’s Victory Day truce “doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lot, if you know where we started from,” Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5.
Drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims. Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The reported attack comes just days before Russia’s Victory Day parade and three-day “truce.”
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Russia сancels Victory Day parade in occupied Crimean city of Sevastopol, state media reports. Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the Victory Day parade, to be held on May 9, would not take place due to safety risks.
Special tribunal against Russian leadership may be launched in 2026, President’s Office says. The tribunal, set to operate within the Council of Europe, will focus on Russia’s political and military leaders, including President Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv responds to Fico’s ‘anti-Ukrainian’ remarks ahead of Slovak PM’s Russia visit to attend Moscow Victory Parade. In a statement, the Ukrainian Embassy said it regretted Fico’s accusations and urged Slovak officials to “more carefully study, rewatch, and analyze” Zelensky’s statements.
Economy minister to meet with party leaders before parliament ratifies minerals deal. MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7, MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne. The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8.
Read our exclusives
As Russia trains abducted children for war, Ukraine fights uphill battle to bring them home
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children who have been forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories. The children are placed in Russian families or camps, often undergo military training, and are subjected to propaganda designed to erase their Ukrainian identity.
Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP via Getty Images
France is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs — here’s what they can do
In a boon for Kyiv’s offensive capabilities, France has announced it will manufacture 1,200 AASM Hammer bombs for Ukraine in 2025. Glide bombs have become an integral part of both Russia and Ukraine’s arsenals. The AASM Hammer is one of several modern Western models and has already been used by Ukraine to great effect.
Photo: Safran Group
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv reportedly targets Moscow, destroys drone control center in Kursk Oblast
Four drones were intercepted overnight as they approached Moscow just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day parade, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on May 5.
Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast kill 3, injure 7, including teen. Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations, the regional military administration reported.
International response
Trump says EU leaders asked him to call Putin because he’s been ignoring their calls. In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump also claimed a peace deal was “fairly close.”
Trump discusses war in Ukraine with Turkey’s Erdogan in phone call. “I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous, but deadly, war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!” U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 5.
Interim head of US embassy in Ukraine arrives in Kyiv. Julie S. Davis’s arrival follows the resignation of Ambassador Bridget Brink, who had served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022.
Czech Republic ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16, L-39 aircraft, Czech PM says. “We are ready to deepen our contribution to the training of the Ukrainian military,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on May 5.
North Korea sends nearly 15,000 migrants to Russia to cover labor market shortage, WSJ reports. The move represents an apparent violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions passed in the wake of North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.
Opinions and insights
A minerals deal won’t stop Russia’s war
“This disconnect between gestures in D.C. and violence in Ukraine speaks to a deeper problem: the U.S. still treats Russia’s criminal war of choice like a policy dilemma to be managed, not a strategic threat to be dealt with decisively before it spreads further,” writes Andrew Chakhoyan, academic director at the University of Amsterdam.
Photo: Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images
In other news
Romanian PM resigns after far-right candidate takes commanding lead in presidential election. Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion, head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), received nearly 41% of the votes. Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote, and the candidate from the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, obtained 20.13%.
Ukrainian court orders detention of ex-deputy head of President’s Office during corruption probe. Andrii Smyrnov is under investigation for allegedly legalizing illicit assets and accepting a bribe worth $100,000.
Grenade explodes overnight in Kyiv apartment, injuring resident. The 41-year-old resident was injured and taken to the hospital, authorities said.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Anna Fratsyvir, Chris York, Oleksiy Sorokin, Kateryna Hodunova, Abbey Fenbert, and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn.
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