"(T)he presence at the Victory Parade of a country that bombs cities, hospitals, and daycares, and which has caused the deaths and injuries of over a million people over three years, is a shame," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
"According to the participants of the performances, their goal is to remind the civilized world of the barbaric actions of Moscow, which for many years and decades has systematically violated international law," a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
"I have great hope that an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine will be reached this weekend," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 9, shortly before traveling to Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Poland, and the U.K.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will arrive in Kyiv early on May 10.
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.
An image shows the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia on May 1, 2025 that killed at least one person and injured seven others. Multiple residential buildings were struck by attack drones, causing multiple fires across the city. (Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration/Telegram)
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russia forces launched drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia late at night on May 1, killing one person and injuring 28 others, local officials reported.
Russia launched attack drones towards the city, striking targets at least 10 times and causing multiple fires, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
The regional military administration later reported that a 61-year-old man had been killed as a result of the attack.
Footage of the aftermath of the attacks shows multiple homes as well as a residential building damaged as a result of the attack. Fedorov later reported that a local university as well as an infrastructure facility were damaged in the strike.
0:00
/
A video shows the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on a residential building in Zaporizhzhia on May 1, 2025. (Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration/Telegram)
Ukraine's State Emergency Service reportedthat apartment buildings, an educational institution, and an infrastructure facility were damaged in the attack.
Situated near the front line, Zaporizhzhia, home to approximately 710,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, is frequently targeted by Russian forces.
Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities come as Kyiv has offered a 30-day pause on strikes against civilian areas. Moscow signaled it would take the proposal under consideration, but has continued in its strikes in cities across Ukraine.
Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Kate Tsurkan
