The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Crews examine a burned car as firefighters continue their work in a damaged building after Russian massive drone strike on Kharkivon May 2, 2025. (George Ivanchenko / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine must ‘accelerate creation of ballistic systems,’ Zelensky says. “Our long-range capabilities are a clear and effective guarantee of Ukraine’s security,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 2.
US confirms sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts support. According to an Air Force spokesperson, the U.S. Department of the Air Force “has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts.”
Massive drone attack reportedly targets Russian military sites in occupied Crimea. The pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported explosions in several key locations, including Sevastopol, Dzhankoy, Saki, Novofedorivka, and Kacha — sites that host Russian military airfields.
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US shifting focus from Ukraine war mediation, calling for Kyiv and Moscow to engage directly, State Dept says. “We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings; that is now between the two parties, and now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
US-Ukraine minerals fund could begin operating within months, Economy Minister says. “Our task is to do this as soon as possible, but it is very difficult to predict it now. I think it will take months, definitely not years,” First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
Ukroboronprom posts $315 million profit as production triples. Ukraine’s largest state-owned defense company Ukroboronprom reported a consolidated net profit of Hr 1.31 billion ($31.5 million) for the previous year, according to a press release at the company’s website.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 47
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv injured at least 47 people on May 2, according to local authorities. At least eight people have been hospitalized.
Photo: State Emergency Service
Could Ukraine have defended Crimea from Russia’s illegal annexation in 2014?
Amid reports that a U.S. peace proposal might include recognizing Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea, President Donald Trump denied Ukraine was being pressured to accept the move.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
A billion-dollar question mark — the details of the US-Ukraine minerals deal
The signing of a long-awaited minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine has come after months of tense negotiations as Kyiv worked on resetting its tumultuous relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Photo: Pierre Crom / Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russia’s attack on Kharkiv injures 47. A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv injured at least 47 people on May 2, according to local authorities. At least eight people have been hospitalized.
One night with 3rd Assault Brigade medics in a new age of war
International response
US prepares sanctions against Russia, unclear if Trump will approve, Reuters reports. The sanctions will target Russia’s energy sector, including state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Major entities in the natural resources and banking sectors will also be targeted.
Belgium’s Euroclear to redistribute $3.4 billion from frozen Russian assets, media reports. The payout, drawn from a pool of 10 billion euros ($11.3 billion) in cash frozen under EU sanctions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, comes in response to Russia’s confiscation of billions in Western-held assets over the past year.
Trump’s team prepares economic options against Russia, Bloomberg reports. The sources told Bloomberg that U.S. President Donald Trump is yet to make a decision, as diplomatic efforts to end the war are still underway.
US State Department approves sale of F-16 training, support services for Ukraine. The equipment and services include aircraft modifications and upgrades as well as personnel training related to operation, maintenance, and sustainment support.
In other news
Azerbaijani lawmaker blames Russia for February cyberattack. Russia was behind the February cyberattack on Azerbaijani media, Ramid Namazov, head of the Azerbaijani parliament’s commission on countering hybrid threats, said on May 2, the APA news agency reported.
Son of ex-Motor Sich president detained in Monaco for $650 million asset theft. Motor Sich’s former president Vyacheslav Bohuslayev was detained in Monaco on fraud charges linked to a $650 million asset scheme, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on May 2.
Ukraine’s agricultural exports drop 23.4% in April. “This export decrease follows typical seasonal patterns. The majority of harvested produce has already been exported, with only minor volumes remaining for export,” the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club said.
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