Vladimir Putin has been accused of “utter cynicism” for attacking Ukraine and killing five people in overnight attacks, just hours after proposing a two-day truce to protect his military parade in Moscow.
Officials said Russian strikes on gas production facilities overnight killed at least three Naftogaz employees and two members of the emergency services.
“It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day leading up to it,” Volodymyr Zelensky said, accusing Putin of being opportunistic and seeking a ceasefire only when he needs to protect Moscow.
Putin said Russia will unilaterally observe a ceasefire on 8-9 May while the country celebrates Victory Day – the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War – with a grand parade in Red Square.
Zelensky has responded with his own open-ended ceasefire offer, saying Ukraine will observe a truce beginning at 12am on Wednesday only and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
Key Points
- Zelensky says Russian strikes after ceasefire proposal show Putin's 'utter cynicism'
- Ukraine and Russia both announce ceasefires – on their own terms
- UN nuclear watchdog says drone damaged equipment at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia facility
- Ukrainian Flamingo missile attacks Russian institute producing high-precision weapons
- Russia announces bomb shelters list on Black Sea port city Tuapse hit by Ukraine
- Four killed in Ukraine after Russian drones and missiles hit Poltava region
In pictures: Putin attends meeting with truck manufacturer
17:00 , Maira ButtRussian President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting with General Director of Kamaz truck manufacturer Sergei Kogogin in Moscow on Tuesday 5 May.
Zelensky pitches drone deal during Bahrain visit
16:30 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday held a meeting with King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa during a visit to Bahrain and offered to sign a deal to provide drones.
“Our country is facing similar terrorist strikes almost every day, and our people have relevant experience in full-scale defence. Ukraine is ready to share this security expertise with Bahrain and help strengthen the protection of life,” he said on X.
Two killed in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Chuvashia region, TASS reports
16:00 , Maira ButtTwo people were killed and 32 injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Chuvashia region, the Russian state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday, citing the regional governor.
Among the injured is one child, Russian news agencies reported.
Watch: Russian high-rise block near Kremlin hit by Ukrainian drone attack
14:57 , Maira ButtWatch: Zelensky mocks Russia’s equipment-free 9 May parade
14:30 , Maira ButtUK sanctions Russian networks suspected of trafficking migrants to fight in Ukraine
14:00 , Maira ButtBritain has imposed a raft of new sanctions targeting Russian networks accused of trafficking vulnerable people from Africa and the Middle East to serve on the front lines in Ukraine.
The 35 new measures, announced on Tuesday, aim to dismantle operations that reportedly trick people from countries including Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen with false promises of a better life, only to send them directly to the battlefield.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty condemned the practice as "barbaric," accusing Russia of "exploiting vulnerable people" and using them as "cannon fodder".
UK sanctions networks suspected of human trafficking in Ukraine war
Putin concerned about personal safety, according to leaked report
13:30 , Maira ButtRussian president Vladimir Putin is reportedly concerned about his personal safety according to a leaked European intelligence report as reported by the Institute for the Study of War.
It noted that the leader spends most of his time in underground bunkers due to fears of assassination.
“ISW has observed corroborating evidence of enhanced security measures for Putin and high-ranking Russian officials,” the ISW wrote in an update on Monday.
“There have been numerous assassinations and assassination attempts against high-ranking Russian officials throughout the war, some of which have been credited to Ukraine, that could be pushing Putin to worry about his safety and the safety of other senior officials.”
Zelensky says Russian strikes after ceasefire proposal show Putin's 'utter cynicism'
13:00 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Russia for asking for a two-day ceasefire while launching major attacks on Ukraine.
“Last night, the Russians attacked energy infrastructure in the Poltava region. And they struck again in an especially vile way with a missile when State Emergency Service workers were already at the scene, extinguishing the fire. As of now, dozens of people are reported injured. Unfortunately, four people were killed, including two first responders,” he said on X this morning.
He said one person was killed in an attack on Kharkiv, while in Dnipro and other areas people were injured and others were left without electricity.
“It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day leading up to it,” he said.
Zelensky said Russia “could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses”, repeating his more than four-year-old plea that Moscow should stop attacks on Ukraine.
He has also accused Putin of being opportunistic and seeking a ceasefire only when he needs to protect Moscow.
“Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind,” Zelensky said.
UK eyes joining EU's €90bn Ukraine loan to tap defence orders
12:30 , Arpan RaiBritain is in talks to join the European Union's €90bn (£77.7bn) loan to Ukraine to qualify for Kyiv's defence orders that the loan finances, but will have to cover some interest payments on the borrowing to be eligible, the European Commission said.
"Today marks the first high-level discussion on the UK’s potential participation in the 90 billion euro Ukraine Support Loan, following technical exchanges between the UK Government and the Commission," a Commission spokesperson told reporters.
The discussions between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and prime minister Keir Starmer at a European Political Community summit in Armenia, are a further sign of deepening European defence ties under rising US pressure.
The loan, approved by the EU last month, is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, with the bulk of that amount earmarked for military spending as Kyiv defends itself against Russia's four-year war.
Russia announces bomb shelters list on Black Sea port city Tuapse hit by Ukraine
12:03 , Arpan RaiRussian authorities in Tuapse have announced an official list of bomb shelters for civilians for the first time, mentioning more than 186 shelters residents can turn to in the event of attacks.
The Black Sea port of Tuapse was attacked by Ukraine on Friday for the fourth time in 16 days as authorities struggled to cope with a mounting environmental disaster from toxic black smoke clouds and oil leaking into the sea.
The strikes are a part of what president Volodymyr Zelensky says is a Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia's huge energy industry and knock key sites out of operation for as long as possible.
Tuapse municipality on Monday published a spreadsheet list on its website notifying locals of 186 shelters, most of them situated in the basement of apartment buildings.
Officials said the shelters have a total capacity of about 38,600 in a town of 61,000, reported The Kyiv Independent.
It added that only one out of the total 186 of the listed shelters is accessible to people with disabilities, according to the spreadsheet.
Residents of Tuapse have been warned to stay inside, keep their windows closed, and drink only bottled water as authorities try to foster a sense of solidarity.
The Tuapse refinery has an annual production capacity of about 12 million metric tons, or 240,000 barrels per day, turning out naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.
Moscow threatens 'massive missile strike' if Ukraine disrupts Putin's parade
11:33 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry has threatened Ukraine with a major attack if Moscow is attacked amid its Victory Day celebrations this week.
Moscow will mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War on Friday and Saturday, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to disrupt the Victory Day festivities.
The defence ministry said if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Saturday's celebrations, Russia will carry out a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv”.
It warned the civilian population there and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of "the need to leave the city promptly”.
Moscow blocks cellphone internet to stop Ukraine drone attacks on parade
11:03 , Arpan RaiRussian authorities have started blocking the internet and messaging services on cellphones in Moscow as part of its preparations to hold a secure Victory Day parade this week.
“Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: ‘During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region. This may cause difficulties with cashless payments, use of ATMs and GPS services.’,” said Steve Rosenberg, a journalist and BBC editor for Russia, based in Moscow.
The notice is similar to the last year’s preparations of military parade by the Russian authorities.
Vladimir Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting 7 May, 2025, and authorities blocked cellphone internet in Moscow for several days to avert Ukrainian drone attacks.
Last year’s parade on the 80th anniversary drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests like Chinese president Xi Jinping, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico.
Watch: Zelensky mocks Russia’s equipment-free 9 May parade
10:33 , Arpan RaiFinnish president calls Ukraine a strategic asset for Nato: 'How can Ukraine help us'
10:03 , Arpan RaiUkraine has credible military and battlefield experience which makes the war-hit nation a strategic asset for Europe and Nato, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb said.
Speaking alongside his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Prague yesterday, Stubb called on Europe to shift its focus from “what it can do for Ukraine” to “what Ukraine can do for Europe”.
“We should gradually shift our thinking from ‘how can we help Ukraine’ to ‘how can Ukraine help us,’” Stubb said.
He added that there is “no other army in Europe or in the US that is capable of modern warfare in the way Ukraine is”.
Four killed in Ukraine after Russian drones and missiles hit Poltava region
09:45 , Arpan RaiA Russian overnight drone and missile attack killed four people and wounded 31 in Ukraine's central region of Poltava, while snapping gas supply to thousands, the local governor said this morning.
Direct hits and falling debris were reported at two sites in the Poltava district, Vitalii Diakivnych said on his Telegram channel.
An industrial enterprise was damaged, he said, cutting of gas supply to nearly 3,500 customers. Railway infrastructure has also been damaged.
Two injured in overnight attack on Kyiv
09:33 , Arpan RaiAt least two people were reportedly injured after a Russian drone attack on Brovary, a Ukrainian city northeast of Kyiv.
The drone hit residential apartments, damaging windows, the facade of a multi-storey building and a vehicle, said Kyiv regional military administration head Mykola Kalashynk.
“In Brovary, a 34-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were injured as a result of an enemy drone attack. The woman suffered a hand injury from glass fragments. The man sustained a cut wound to his heel,” he said.
Medics have provided all necessary assistance at the scene, regional officials said.
“This is yet another reminder that the enemy targets peaceful life and our homes. I urge everyone: do not ignore air raid alerts. Stay in safe places while the threat remains,” Kalashnyk said.
Ukrainian Flamingo missile attacks Russian institute producing high-precision weapons
09:03 , Arpan RaiUkraine has launched a major missile and drone attack on several regions in Russia, targeting a critical military-industrial site in the western part of the country, reported Telegram media channels.
The attack on Cheboksary in Chuvash republic sparked a massive fire, according to the photos and videos shared on social media by local residents. The fire was reported from JSC VNIIR-Progress, a state institute that produces components for high-precision weapons used in attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces, reported The Kyiv Independent.
A Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo missile was used in the attack, according to Russian Telegram channels. Locals confirmed explosions from the area of the facility after an air raid alert announcing a missile threat.
One person was injured in the attack, local governor Oleg Nikolayev said.
UN nuclear watchdog says drone damaged equipment at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia facility
08:33 , Arpan RaiThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the meteorological monitoring equipment at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
The UN nuclear watchdog said a team of its experts had visited the station's External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), a day after the plant's Russian management said it had been hit by a drone.
“Team observed damage to some of the lab's meteorological monitoring equipment which is no longer operational," the IAEA said.
The statement said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi had issued a fresh appeal "for maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks".
The plant, which now produces no electricity, has been struck several times by drones since the beginning of the conflict. The plant's management on Sunday said damage has been minor and that operations were otherwise unaffected.
Zelensky says Russian strikes after ceasefire proposal show Putin's 'utter cynicism'
08:19 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Russia for asking for a two-day ceasefire while launching major attacks on Ukraine.
“Last night, the Russians attacked energy infrastructure in the Poltava region. And they struck again in an especially vile way with a missile when State Emergency Service workers were already at the scene, extinguishing the fire. As of now, dozens of people are reported injured. Unfortunately, four people were killed, including two first responders,” he said on X this morning.
He said one person was killed in an attack on Kharkiv, while in Dnipro and other areas people were injured and others were left without electricity.
“It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day leading up to it,” he said.
Zelensky said Russia “could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses”, repeating his more than four-year-old plea that Moscow should stop attacks on Ukraine.
He has also accused Putin of being opportunistic and seeking a ceasefire only when he needs to protect Moscow.
“Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind,” Zelensky said.
Last night, the Russians attacked energy infrastructure in the Poltava region. And they struck again in an especially vile way with a missile when State Emergency Service workers were already at the scene, extinguishing the fire. As of now, dozens of people are reported injured.… pic.twitter.com/ftDb4Rsovk
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 5, 2026
Ukraine and Russia both announce ceasefires – on their own terms
08:03 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday 6 May after Russia requested a two-day truce.
Russia's Vladimir Putin had sought a ceasefire covering 8-9 May while Moscow celebrates Victory Day, the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The Russian defence ministry said it would observe a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday, during which a military parade will be held in Red Square, but threatened it would strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Zelensky initially said Moscow's request was "not serious" and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
But he has now said Ukraine will observe a truce beginning at 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
Keeping it open-ended, Zelensky did not announce when the temporary truce would end.
UK eyes joining EU's €90bn Ukraine loan to tap defence orders
07:36 , Arpan RaiBritain is in talks to join the European Union's €90bn (£77.7bn) loan to Ukraine to qualify for Kyiv's defence orders that the loan finances, but will have to cover some interest payments on the borrowing to be eligible, the European Commission said.
"Today marks the first high-level discussion on the UK’s potential participation in the 90 billion euro Ukraine Support Loan, following technical exchanges between the UK Government and the Commission," a Commission spokesperson told reporters.
The discussions between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and prime minister Keir Starmer at a European Political Community summit in Armenia, are a further sign of deepening European defence ties under rising US pressure.
The loan, approved by the EU last month, is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, with the bulk of that amount earmarked for military spending as Kyiv defends itself against Russia's four-year war.
Ukraine's Naftogaz facility hit in overnight Russian attacks
07:21 , Arpan RaiRussian drones and missiles have hit Ukraine’s Naftogaz gas production facility in Poltava region, officials said this morning.
The attacks in Poltava and Kharkiv regions killed three employees and two rescue workers, the company’s CEO said.
The major attack on Ukrainian region also killed four people and injured 31, the local governor said.
Russia announces bomb shelters list on Black Sea port city Tuapse hit by Ukraine
07:08 , Arpan RaiRussian authorities in Tuapse have announced an official list of bomb shelters for civilians for the first time, mentioning more than 186 shelters residents can turn to in the event of attacks.
The Black Sea port of Tuapse was attacked by Ukraine on Friday for the fourth time in 16 days as authorities struggled to cope with a mounting environmental disaster from toxic black smoke clouds and oil leaking into the sea.
The strikes are a part of what president Volodymyr Zelensky says is a Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia's huge energy industry and knock key sites out of operation for as long as possible.
Tuapse municipality on Monday published a spreadsheet list on its website notifying locals of 186 shelters, most of them situated in the basement of apartment buildings.
Officials said the shelters have a total capacity of about 38,600 in a town of 61,000, reported The Kyiv Independent.
It added that only one out of the total 186 of the listed shelters is accessible to people with disabilities, according to the spreadsheet.
Residents of Tuapse have been warned to stay inside, keep their windows closed, and drink only bottled water as authorities try to foster a sense of solidarity.
The Tuapse refinery has an annual production capacity of about 12 million metric tons, or 240,000 barrels per day, turning out naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.
Four killed in Ukraine after Russian drones and missiles hit Poltava region
06:36 , Arpan RaiA Russian overnight drone and missile attack killed four people and wounded 31 in Ukraine's central region of Poltava, while snapping gas supply to thousands, the local governor said this morning.
Direct hits and falling debris were reported at two sites in the Poltava district, Vitalii Diakivnych said on his Telegram channel.
An industrial enterprise was damaged, he said, cutting of gas supply to nearly 3,500 customers. Railway infrastructure has also been damaged.
In photos: Putin's forces gear up for Victory Day parade celebrations in Moscow
06:30 , Arpan Rai
Moscow threatens 'massive missile strike' if Ukraine disrupts Putin's parade
06:12 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry has threatened Ukraine with a major attack if Moscow is attacked amid its Victory Day celebrations this week.
Moscow will mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War on Friday and Saturday, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to disrupt the Victory Day festivities.
The defence ministry said if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Saturday's celebrations, Russia will carry out a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv”.
It warned the civilian population there and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of "the need to leave the city promptly”.
Moscow blocks cellphone internet to stop Ukraine drone attacks on parade
05:56 , Arpan RaiRussian authorities have started blocking the internet and messaging services on cellphones in Moscow as part of its preparations to hold a secure Victory Day parade this week.
“Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: ‘During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region. This may cause difficulties with cashless payments, use of ATMs and GPS services.’,” said Steve Rosenberg, a journalist and BBC editor for Russia, based in Moscow.
The notice is similar to the last year’s preparations of military parade by the Russian authorities.
Vladimir Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting 7 May, 2025, and authorities blocked cellphone internet in Moscow for several days to avert Ukrainian drone attacks.
Last year’s parade on the 80th anniversary drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests like Chinese president Xi Jinping, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico.
Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: “During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region. This may cause difficulties with cashless payments,…
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) May 4, 2026
Watch: Zelensky mocks Russia’s equipment-free 9 May parade
05:18 , Arpan RaiFinnish president calls Ukraine a strategic asset for Nato: 'How can Ukraine help us'
04:54 , Arpan RaiUkraine has credible military and battlefield experience which makes the war-hit nation a strategic asset for Europe and Nato, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb said.
Speaking alongside his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Prague yesterday, Stubb called on Europe to shift its focus from “what it can do for Ukraine” to “what Ukraine can do for Europe”.
“We should gradually shift our thinking from ‘how can we help Ukraine’ to ‘how can Ukraine help us,’” Stubb said.
He added that there is “no other army in Europe or in the US that is capable of modern warfare in the way Ukraine is”.
Two injured in overnight attack on Kyiv
04:39 , Arpan RaiAt least two people were reportedly injured after a Russian drone attack on Brovary, a Ukrainian city northeast of Kyiv.
The drone hit residential apartments, damaging windows, the facade of a multi-storey building and a vehicle, said Kyiv regional military administration head Mykola Kalashynk.
“In Brovary, a 34-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were injured as a result of an enemy drone attack. The woman suffered a hand injury from glass fragments. The man sustained a cut wound to his heel,” he said.
Medics have provided all necessary assistance at the scene, regional officials said.
“This is yet another reminder that the enemy targets peaceful life and our homes. I urge everyone: do not ignore air raid alerts. Stay in safe places while the threat remains,” Kalashnyk said.
Ukrainian Flamingo missile attacks Russian institute producing high-precision weapons
04:26 , Arpan RaiUkraine has launched a major missile and drone attack on several regions in Russia, targeting a critical military-industrial site in the western part of the country, reported Telegram media channels.
The attack on Cheboksary in Chuvash republic sparked a massive fire, according to the photos and videos shared on social media by local residents. The fire was reported from JSC VNIIR-Progress, a state institute that produces components for high-precision weapons used in attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces, reported The Kyiv Independent.
A Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo missile was used in the attack, according to Russian Telegram channels. Locals confirmed explosions from the area of the facility after an air raid alert announcing a missile threat.
One person was injured in the attack, local governor Oleg Nikolayev said.
UN nuclear watchdog says drone damaged equipment at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia facility
04:13 , Arpan RaiThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the meteorological monitoring equipment at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
The UN nuclear watchdog said a team of its experts had visited the station's External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), a day after the plant's Russian management said it had been hit by a drone.
“Team observed damage to some of the lab's meteorological monitoring equipment which is no longer operational," the IAEA said.
The statement said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi had issued a fresh appeal "for maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks".
The plant, which now produces no electricity, has been struck several times by drones since the beginning of the conflict. The plant's management on Sunday said damage has been minor and that operations were otherwise unaffected.
Ukraine and Russia both announce ceasefires – on their own terms
04:10 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday 6 May after Russia requested a two-day truce.
Russia's Vladimir Putin had sought a ceasefire covering 8-9 May while Moscow celebrates Victory Day, the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The Russian defence ministry said it would observe a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday, during which a military parade will be held in Red Square, but threatened it would strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Zelensky initially said Moscow's request was "not serious" and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
But he has now said Ukraine will observe a truce beginning at 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
Keeping it open-ended, Zelensky did not announce when the temporary truce would end.
Recap: Putin threatens 'retaliatory missile strike' on Kyiv if Victory Day parade disrupted
03:00 , Bryony GoochRussia have threatened to launch a “massive retaliatory missile strike” on the centre of Kyiv if Ukraine attempts to disrupt their World War Two Victory Day celebration on 9 May.
Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, yet Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that they were yet to receive any official proposal.
On Monday, he dismissed the idea of a one-day ceasefire as “not serious”, after the Kremlin said it was discussed with Donald Trump.
Russia’s defence ministry warned: "Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds," adding however that it was ready to act if the ceasefire was not respected.
"We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner," it said.
Pictured: Russian serviceman hugs a girl before the rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russian missile strike kills seven in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, officials say
01:00 , Bryony GoochA midmorning Russian missile attack on the town of Merefa, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, killed seven people and wounded more than 30, including a 2-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said that at least 10 houses, an administrative building, four shops, a car repair workshop and a food establishment were damaged in the attack, which prosecutors said occurred at about 9:35am local time on Monday.
"The strike was of great force, at the centre of the town, practically in the middle of the roads," he said on Telegram, adding that it will take another day or two to clear the debris.
He said that two men and three women were killed on the spot. Two people died while being treated in hospital.
There was no immediate comment from Russia.
More pictures from today's European summit
Monday 4 May 2026 23:00 , Sam Rkaina
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem?
Monday 4 May 2026 22:00 , Sam RkainaEarlier today we reported that authorities in Ukraine have conducted dozens of searches across 16 regions into current and former draft officials suspected of corruption-related offences, police said on Monday.
The National Police said they had seized money, cars and motorcycles and filed more than 150 administrative charges for violations such as illegal enrichment and the false declaration of assets.
It is the latest in a series of moves to tackle the country’s wider corruption problem.
Anti-corruption investigators announced Operation Midas last November as they identified a large-scale corruption scheme in the country’s energy sector.
Midas takes its name from the king of Greek mythology, who turned everything he touched into gold.
Behind the probe was the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), who said their discovery was the result of 15 months of wiretapping work and cited 1,000 hours of audio recordings and more than 70 raids.
At the heart of the probe was $100 million in funds that NABU said had been laundered by an alleged criminal organisation consisting of current and former energy officials, government ministers, a former deputy prime minister, and a businessman.
Keeping Trump on side is growing problem for Zelensky's allies
Monday 4 May 2026 21:00 , Sam RkainaEuropean officials have been working on ways to convince Donald Trump to keep the United States in NATO despite severe tensions over the Iran war.
But his abrupt move to cut U.S. forces in Germany is the latest sign that such efforts have their limits and are far from certain to succeed.
The substance of the decision announced on Friday to remove 5,000 troops from Germany did not come as a surprise to NATO officials.
Dropping a plan to deploy long-range U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Germany was more concerning for Berlin.
But even that was not a huge shock, as that deal was made by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, and U.S. Tomahawk stocks have been depleted by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
More alarming for European governments was how the move was made – with little prior notification or consultation and with U.S. officials linking it to Trump’s displeasure at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of U.S. conduct of the Iran war.
“What is worrying is not the figure of 5,000 troops, but the political signal from Washington that longstanding, absolutely reliable partnerships no longer seem to count for anything and appear to be subject to arbitrary decisions,” said Siemtje Moeller, a senior lawmaker from Germany’s Social Democrats, who are part of Merz’s governing coalition.
Trump mocked for claiming he has 'all the cards' - in UNO
Monday 4 May 2026 20:15 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump once infamously attacked Ukraine’s President Zelensky for ‘not having the cards’ in the war with Russia.
It’s a trope the US leader has come back to multiple times when he discusses international conflicts - be it Ukraine or Iran.
However, his latest boasts have backfired somewhat after he claimed he had all the cards in a game that requires you to get rid of them.
A seemingly AI-generated image likely meant to signal Trump’s leverage in the Iran war, was shared to Truth Social and on the White House’s official X account on Sunday.
But social media users soon had a field day making fun of the president for missing the point of the beloved game, which is won by the player who gets rid of their cards first.
“Dear @WhiteHouse: If Trump has all the cards, then why are gas prices at record levels? Oh wait, in Uno you win by not having any cards. Your social media person really should get fired,” California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu responded to the post.
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