"(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.
Photo allegedly showing the newly approved Baton drone, Feb. 10, 2025. (Ukraine's Defense Ministry / Official website).
Ukraine's Defense Ministry has officially approved the domestically-produced Baton ("a loaf of bread" in Ukrainian) drone for use by the Armed Forces, the ministry announced on Feb. 10.
The Baton drones are designed to meet military requirements for simplicity and reliability in difficult battlefield conditions. Built on frames of various sizes, they boast high-speed capabilities, allowing them to catch up with and strike targets, according to the ministry.
The new drones can operate effectively in extreme weather, including freezing temperatures and intense heat, the ministry said.
Ukraine has prioritized drone warfare since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, heavily investing in aerial, naval, and ground-based unmanned systems.
On Feb. 9, the Defense Ministry launched the "Drone Line," an initiative to integrate drone technology further into front-line operations.
Kyiv has also developed long-range missile-drone hybrids, such as the Palianytsia and Peklo hybrids, which feature turbojet engines as alternatives to cruise missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a production target of at least 30,000 long-range drones in 2025.
Ukrainian officials claimed the Palianytsia took one and a half years to go from blueprints and plans, to its first successful combat use. In early December 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that a lightweight missile-drone hybrid has entered serial production.
Ukraine has introduced its first long-range rocket drone, Palianytsia, designed to target Russian airfields and strengthen its defense where Western weapons can't be used.
While some details of Peklo's capabilities remain undisclosed for security reasons, President Volodymyr Zelensky described the weapon as a "fundamentally new type." It has a range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and a speed of 700 km/h (430 mph).
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
