The United States embassy in Kyiv on May 9 issued a warning that Russia could launch "a potentially significant" attack in the coming days, despite Putin's self-declared Victory Day "truce."
The sanctioned oil tankers have transported over $24 billion in cargo since 2024, according to Downing Street. The U.K. has now sanctioned more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.
Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
Ukrainian actor and soldier Yakiv Tkachenko. (Oles Sanin / Facebook)
Yakiv Tkachenko, a theater and film actor from Dnipro, was killed in action while serving on the front line with Ukraine's 128th Territorial Defense Brigade, his friends and colleagues reported on Dec. 14.
Tkachenko was known for his roles in Ukrainian films such as "Chervonyi" ("Red"), "Dovbush," and "Pryputni" ("The Strayed"). He also appeared in "Mr. Jones," a high-profile film about the man-made Holodomor famine, directed by Agnieszka Holland.
Film director Oles Sanin announced Tkachenko's death on his Facebook page.
"One of the most talented Ukrainian actors," Sanin said. "A true knight. A true friend."
Casting director Alla Samoylenko also announced the actor's death on Facebook.
"So cinematic, so talented," she said. "A treasure. A man of gold. My great, great acting love and pride."
Actor Yevhen Chernykov reported via Facebook that Tkachenko joined the Territorial Defense Forces of Dnipro at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. Serving in the 128th Territorial Defense Brigade, he participated in battles in Donetsk Oblast.
During his service, he sustained two injuries but consistently returned to active duty, Chernykov said.
"Extraordinary and bright," he said.
"I have known Yakiv since 2016, I have seen him develop as a sincere patriot of our country... Yakiv created many bright images in our cinema and will forever remain in our hearts and memory. To be a warrior is to live forever."
The details of Tkachenko's death have not been disclosed.
According to a March 2024 report from PEN International, at least 102 Ukrainian cultural figures, including writers, artists, translators and historians, have been killed since the beginning of the invasion.
Dinara Khalilova
