Ukraine orders mandatory evacuation from 11 additional villages in Sumy Oblast amid Russian troop buildup

Authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents from 11 additional villages in Sumy Oblast due to escalating Russian attacks, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on May 31.

Hryhorov signed the order citing the "constant threat to civilian life" caused by ongoing shelling in the region. The evacuation covers settlements in local communities of Sumy Oblast, which lies  near the Russian border.

"(Russia) continues its terror of the borderlands, and our shared task is to save every life," Hryhorov said in a statement. "I urge residents not to delay the decision to evacuate. Staying in a zone of constant danger is a direct threat to your life and health."

With the latest order, a total of 213 settlements in Sumy Oblast are now under mandatory evacuation.

The move comes as Ukrainian officials and military analysts warn of a possible new Russian offensive targeting the region. On May 29, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said Russia had amassed "sufficient forces" in neighboring Kursk Oblast to potentially launch an incursion into Sumy.

Speaking on national television, Demchenko noted that Russian troops have remained stationed in Kursk Oblast after being pushed out by Ukrainian forces during a counteroffensive in August 2024. Since then, Kyiv has observed fluctuating numbers of soldiers and equipment along the border.

"They have enough forces there (in Kursk Oblast) to carry out operations against our border and attempt to attack the territory of Ukraine," Demchenko said.

Russian forces recently captured four border villages, Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka, prompting further concern. President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that Moscow is concentrating 50,000 troops near Sumy Oblast in a bid to create a 10-kilometer buffer zone.

Russia may ‘consider’ ceasefire if Ukraine stops mobilization, arms deliveries, ambassador says

Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, pledged that Moscow would “continue and intensify military operations for as long as necessary.”

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General Staff: Russia has lost 987,330 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 987,330 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 31.

The number includes 1,250 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,867 tanks, 22,652 armored fighting vehicles, 50,198 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,475 artillery systems, 1,400 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,173 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 38,215 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Trump ‘very surprised, disappointed’ at Russian attacks on Ukraine amid peace talks

“I’ve gotten to see things I was very surprised at. Rockets being shot into cities like Kyiv during a negotiation that was maybe very close to ending,” Trump said during a news conference in the Oval Office. “All of a sudden rockets got shot into a couple of cities and people died. I saw thing I was surprised at and I don’t like being surprised, so I’m very disappointed in that way.”

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Kremlin fabricated story on Putin’s near-miss with Ukrainian drones, Moscow Times reports

Claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter being "at the epicenter" of a Ukrainian drone attack in Kursk Oblast were reportedly fabricated by the Kremlin, the Moscow Times reported on May 30, citing four Russian government sources.

A Russian military commander claimed on May 20 that Putin's helicopter was subject to a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Kursk Oblast, as Putin made his first known visit to the region since Moscow claimed its recapture.

"We were simultaneously engaged in an air defense battle and ensuring airspace security for the president’s helicopter flight," Yury Dashkin, commander of an air defense division, said, as cited by the Russian news agency RBC on May 25. "The helicopter was effectively at the epicenter of the response to the massive drone attack."

Multiple sources in the Kremlin told the Moscow Times that Russia's Defense Ministry had disseminated the story to Russian-state media as a means to make Putin appear as though he "shares the danger" of the war, in an attempt to garner support for the Russian president by painting him as more closely involved in the fighting.

Despite the claims, Putin's visit to Kursk Oblast was conducted in secrecy, with Russian-state media reporting on the trip after it had concluded, according to the Moscow Times.

"President Putin himself is suffering, struggling, and even risking his own life. Your problems are trivial. You must grit your teeth and endure," a government official told the Moscow Times, in describing the Kremlin's motivation behind the staging.

The reportedly fabricated story comes as Kyiv has ramped up its attack on Moscow, launching hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones towards the Russian capital. While none have appeared to have reached Moscow, the attacks have caused significant disruptions to commuter air traffic.

Ukrainian drones have forced at least 218 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia.

During his visit to Kursk, Putin met with Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein, heads of local municipalities, and members of volunteer organizations. He also visited the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, the Kremlin's press service said. The exact date of the visit was not revealed at the time of publication.

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. The operation aimed to disrupt a planned Russian offensive on the neighboring Sumy Oblast and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donetsk Oblast.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the Moscow Times' reporting or claims made about the alleged attack.

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims

Key developments on May 28: * Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims * Ukraine ready for 2nd round of Istanbul talks but seeks Russian draft memo in advance, Yermak says * Senate to ‘start moving’ Russia sanctions bill next week, Graham says * Russia may ‘consider’

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NATO expansion 'fair' concern for Putin, Kellogg says

NATO's eastward expansion is a "fair" concern for Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Keith Kellogg said in an interview with ABC News on May 29.

As one of the conditions for ending the full-scale war against Ukraine, Putin demanded a written pledge by NATO not to accept more Eastern European members, which would effectively block Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from joining, Reuters reported earlier this week.

Moscow has claimed that Ukraine's NATO aspirations were one of the key causes of its invasion. Russian aggression against Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, a time when Kyiv had little prospect of joining the alliance in the foreseeable future.

When asked whether Trump would commit to halting NATO expansion, Kellogg replied that "it's a fair concern."

Trump's special envoy also reiterated that Ukraine's membership in the alliance "is not on the table," adding that Washington is not alone in its hesitation, as several other member states share similar doubts about Kyiv’s accession.

"And that's one of the issues Russia will bring up... They're also talking about Georgia, they're talking about Moldova, they're talking — obviously — about Ukraine. And we're saying, 'Okay, let's address this comprehensively,'" Kellogg said.

According to him, a decision of NATO's expansion would ultimately be up to the U.S. president, and any agreement would likely involve negotiations between Trump, Putin, and President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a settlement of the Russia's war.

Trump has repeatedly echoed Moscow's narrative that Ukraine's efforts to join NATO have been one of the root causes of the full-scale invasion.

In March this year, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha  rejected restrictions on joining international alliances and organizations — namely, NATO and the EU — as part of a potential peace deal.

Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, months after the outbreak of the full-scale war. The country has not received a formal invitation, as the 32 members have struggled to reach a consensus.

Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense

Despite grand plans, the European Union’s hoped-for rearmament remains fully dependent on member nations stepping up their own defenses. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an 800-million-euro “Rearm Europe” plan to build out a defense architecture that has depended on the U.S. since the

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9 injured in Kharkiv amid Russian drone attack

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Nine were injured in Kharkiv overnight on May 30 amid a Russian drone attack on the city, local authorities reported.

"Specialized services are heading to the scene of the incidents," Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a Telegram post.

Two 16-year-olds were injured, Syniehubov said, adding that residential buildings have been damaged in the drone attack.

Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks against Ukraine despite peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul on May 16.

The talks in Turkey were largely inconclusive. Russia reiterated maximalist demands that Ukraine hand over Crimea and eastern oblasts.

The two sides were able to agree to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, which was carried out between May 23 and 25.

Russian President Vladimir Putin refused President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to meet face-to-face in Istanbul. Instead, Russia sent a delegation of lower-level officials led by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

Russia has refused a ceasefire and instead insisted it would provide Ukraine with a peace memorandum shortly after the May 16 talks. Ukraine and Russia are slated to hold another round of peace talks on June 2.

Meanwhile, Kyiv is still awaiting Russia's proposed ceasefire memorandum, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on May 28.

Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks from across the border or Russian-occupied territories.

Russia has regularly targeted civilian infrastructure in aerial attacks against Ukraine since the start of its full-scale war in February 2022.

Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense

Despite grand plans, the European Union’s hoped-for rearmament remains fully dependent on member nations stepping up their own defenses. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an 800-million-euro “Rearm Europe” plan to build out a defense architecture that has depended on the U.S. since the

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Russians complain border regions uninhabitable as Kremlin pushes for buffer zone, Ukraine's military intelligence says

Residents in Russian regions along the Ukrainian border complain the area is increasingly uninhabitable due to the government's actions amid Moscow's attempt to establish a "buffer zone," according to a call intercepted by Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) and posted May 29.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on May 22 that he ordered the military to begin creating a "security buffer zone" along the border of Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts.

In the call, a resident of Russia's Belgorod Oblast claims that authorities have cut off gas along the border. The speaker predicts mandatory evacuations will follow as living conditions worsen.

"Well, in short, it's clear that they're going to kick everyone out of the border areas and create a gray zone," the unidentified individual says.

"Gray zones" refer to areas along the border and front lines where there is contested or unclear control.

The resident speaking on the call anticipates that the area will become so heavily militarized it will be partitioned from the rest of the region.

"Let them make temporary settlements, zones, and that's it. They'll even fence it off with barbed wire," the resident says.

Russia's Belogorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine's Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts, is regularly used as a staging area for Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. Russian officials have also accused Kyiv of repeatedly launching strikes on the region and the city of Belgorod since the war began.

Ukraine launched a small-scale offensive in Belgorod Oblast in late March, marking Kyiv's second cross-border operation in Russian territory after the August 2024 Kursk incursion.

Russian forces are now reportedly amassing along the border in preparation for a possible offensive against Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, according to the State Border Guard Service.

Moscow has repeatedly indicated plans to create a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia in the area.

Escalated violence along the Sumy border has triggered mass civilian evacuations, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians ordered to leave their homes.

Ukraine war latest: Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow

* Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, building damaged on the outskirts * Rubio, Lavrov discuss next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul * ‘No one has seen it yet’ — Zelensky slams Russia for stalling on ceasefire memorandum ahead of Istanbul talks * Russia amassed enough troops to

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Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says

A total of 1,279 of the approximately 2,500 Azov fighters held in Russian captivity as POWs have been returned to Ukraine since being captured, including 455 from the Azov Brigade, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on May 28.

The confirmed statistic, which includes soldiers in multiple units who fought to defend the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, comes amid social media outcry criticizing Ukrainian authorities for failing to return certain captives, including Azov fighters, during the war's largest 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange, which concluded on May 25.

"Behind each number is a human life, and no statistics can replace loved ones for individual families," Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters told Radio Liberty on May 28.

Ukrainian society has rallied for captured Azov fighters who defended the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol during the Russian siege of the port city in 2022. The battle, one of the most brutal of the entire war, is credited with buying time for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to prepare itself and receive international military aid against Russia's invasion during the initial phase of the war.

Azovstal defenders were ordered to surrender to the encircling Russian forces after nearly two months of constant bombardment of the besieged plant. While hundreds of these fighters have been released since 2022, hundreds more remain in captivity.

Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, described the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange as a "mockery" due to the lack of fighters from the Azov Brigade, in a post on Facebook on May 25.

"Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working under extremely difficult conditions amid the full-scale invasion, and the Mariupol garrison remains one of the top priorities for repatriation," Yusov said on May 25 in response to to the frustration seen on social media.

Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the mass exchange, pledged to "bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity."

The three days of prisoner exchanges were negotiated by Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16th, during the first direct talks between the two countries in three years.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 28 that Moscow has proposed June 2 as the date for the next round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.

Moscow proposes next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on June 2 in Istanbul

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the talks would be a continuation of negotiations launched in Istanbul on May 16.

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Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 46 over past day

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured 46, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 28.

Russia launched five Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight, as well as 88 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, the Air Force said.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 34 drones, while 37 were neutralized by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radars. Eight hits were recorded across Ukraine, according to the Air Force.  

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two women aged 51 and 64 were injured during Russian artillery and drone attacks against the Nikopol district, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast injured eight civilians – four in Pokrovsk, two in Novovodiane, and one each in Sloviansk and Zarichne, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian strikes killed an 85-year-old man and injured nine others, including a 4-year-old girl, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Over 70 houses were damaged, as well as 12 apartment buildings, a school, shops, warehouses, and more.

Thirteen people were injured in Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

In Kirovohrad Oblast, at least three people were injured in a Russian aerial strike, Governor Andrii Raikovych reported. Seventy-six houses and a multi-story residential building were damaged. A fire broke out after an attack against an industrial enterprise in Svitlovodsk, the governor said.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a 7-year-old girl was injured during a Russian drone attack, Governor Vitalii Kim said. Houses and a recreational facility were damaged in missile and drone attacks elsewhere in the region.

Nine people were injured in Russian attacks against Sumy Oblast, including a child, the regional military administration reported.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 17-year-old boy was injured during a Russian attack on the Polohy district, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Sanctions on Russia are working, Ukraine just needs more

Sanctions on their own won’t end the war, but they are a crucial tool in the West’s efforts to pressure Putin.

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Russia should think less about Trump's statements, more about stopping war, State Department says

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce advised Russia to focus less on President Donald Trump’s social media posts and more on ending its war against Ukraine.

"If the Russians cared about the nature of how [peace efforts are] proceeding, they would be thinking less about [the president’s statements] and more about what they could do – which is in their hands – to stop the carnage and the slaughter that’s happening right now," Bruce said during a May 27 press briefing.

Bruce's comments refer to Trump's recent posts on Truth Social, in which he reacted to Russia's weekend bombardment of Ukraine that killed at least 12 people. Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin "crazy" and warned him that he was "playing with fire."

The Kremlin dismissed the remarks, calling Trump's statements the result of "emotional overload."

Bruce added that Trump's posts were a "clear and completely transparent" statement regarding his opinion of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, and she encouraged Russia to take him seriously.

Over the weekend, Russia launched the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, firing more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine. On May 26 alone, Russia reportedly launched 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys –  the largest drone attack of the war.

Despite Trump's public criticism of Putin, there have been no concrete policy changes with regard to applying more pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have called for tougher action on Russia and are prepared to pass a a bipartisan, "bone-crushing" sanctions bill that has yet to be endorsed by Trump.

Trump admits to protecting Russia from ‘really bad things’ during Ukraine peace talks

Trump’s comments come amid growing pressure on the U.S. administration to respond to escalating Russian attacks.

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Ukrainian drones shot down over Moscow, mayor claims

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian air defense shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones headed toward Moscow overnight on May 28, according to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

Writing on Telegram at 12:29 a.m. local time, Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defense shot down four drones flying toward Moscow. Emergency services were working at the wreckage site.

Since then, dozens of Ukrainian drones have been allegedly shot down near Moscow. Most recently, two more drones were shot down at 2:41 a.m. local time, according to Sobyanin's latest Telegram post.

A total of 26 Ukrainian drones have been shot down so far, according to Russian officials.

No casualties or damage have been reported at the time of publication.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify Sobyanin's claims. Ukraine rarely comments on reports of drone strikes on Russian soil.

As Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire and the war drags on, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian territory.

The recent surge in drone strikes aims to disrupt airport operations, overwhelm air defenses, and make the war more visible to ordinary Russians.

Trump admits to protecting Russia from ‘really bad things’ during Ukraine peace talks

Trump’s comments come amid growing pressure on the U.S. administration to respond to escalating Russian attacks.

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Decision on lifting range restrictions on arms for Ukraine made months ago, Germany's Merz clarifies

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clarified on May 27 that his comments on the West lifting range restrictions on arms for Ukraine referred to a step made months ago.

"The issue of limiting the range of deployed weapons played a role a few months and a few years ago. As far as I know, and as I said yesterday, the countries that imposed range limitations have long since abandoned these requirements," Merz said during a press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Turku.

"In this respect, yesterday in Berlin, I described something that has been happening for months: namely, that Ukraine has the right to use the weapons it receives, even beyond its own borders, against military targets on Russian territory."

Speaking at a forum on May 26, Merz said that "there are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine" imposed by Germany, the U.S., the U.K., or France.

"This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia," the chancellor added. "Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either."

Ukraine has previously received long-range missiles from the U.S., the U.K., and France — including ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP — but was initially permitted to deploy them only against Russian military forces in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Only in late 2024, the Biden administration and other allies eased the restrictions, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian military targets in Russia's border regions.

Merz's comments on May 26 caused some confusion as to whether he was referring to a newly announced policy, drawing both praise and rebuke. Ralf Stegner, a politician from Merz's coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), told the media the move was "unhelpful" and called instead for intensifying diplomatic efforts.

In turn, a former German defense minister and ex-leader of Merz's CDU party, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, praised Merz for his comments.

Merz's latest statement in Turku indicates that his earlier comment referred to the decision taken in late 2024 rather than a new policy.

Before becoming chancellor, Merz signaled he would overturn the ban of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, on the delivery of Germany's Taurus cruise missiles, capable of striking targets at a distance of 500 kilometers (300 miles). He has not confirmed whether he intends to deliver the missiles since taking office.

Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

Key developments on May 26: * West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says * Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours * Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike * Netherlands to send last of

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Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike

Russian air defenses opened fire against drones near the Yelabuga drone production site in Russia's Tatarstan Republic, while other drones attacked a chemical plant in Ivanovo Oblast, independent news channel Astra reported on May 26.

The reported attacks against Russian industrial facilities come as Moscow intensifies its aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

Local residents reported air defense fire and drones flying over Yelabuga city on May 25, Astra and Baza Telegram channels wrote. The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type drones and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces throughout the full-scale war.

It is unclear whether the facility, lying some 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, suffered any damage in the May 25 attack.

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Footage that purports to show air defense fire over Yelabuga, Tatarstan, Russia, on May 25, 2025. (Astra/Telegram)

In Ivanovo Oblast, local authorities reported intercepting a drone attack in the town of Kineshma, with drone wreckage falling in the industrial area. No casualties were reported.

The drones targeted the town's Dmitrievsky Chemical Plant, Astra reported, citing residents. The facility produces components for Russian arms, namely missiles, Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko said.

Kineshma lies around 750 kilometers (470 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

At least 10 explosions were also reported in Russia's Tula Oblast overnight. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces had downed 148 Ukrainian drones between 10 a.m. local time on May 25 and 8 a.m. on May 26.

A Ukrainian drone attack also reportedly targeted Moscow on May 25, local authorities claimed. The airports in Moscow, Nizhnekamsk, and Kaluga have temporarily suspended operations, Russian authorities said.

Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the attacks, and the Kyiv Independent could not verify claims provided by Russian officials.

‘I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,’ says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

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Ukraine captured almost 1,000 Russian soldiers during Kursk offensive, General Staff says

Ukrainian forces captured 971 Russian soldiers during a months-long offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 25, describing the campaign as key to conducting prisoner exchanges.

The announcement came a day after Ukraine brought home 303 prisoners of war in the final phase of a 1,000-for-1,000 exchange with Russia. The swap was agreed during peace talks held in Turkey on May 16, the first direct negotiations between the two countries in three years.

According to the General Staff, the 971 Russian troops were taken captive between Aug. 6, 2024, and May 25, 2025, as part of Ukraine's ongoing offensive in Kursk Oblast. The military described the campaign as an "unexpected and asymmetric" move that helped fill the so-called "exchange fund" — Ukrainian terminology for captured Russian soldiers who can be traded for Ukrainian POWs.

Critics had previously questioned the strategic value of the Kursk operation, citing high costs and unclear gains.

"Only unconventional decisions can defeat a numerically superior enemy," the statement read. "The Kursk campaign has proven to be exactly that — its success recognized around the world."

The May 25 prisoner release brought home soldiers from the Armed Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service, and Special Transport Service. Families and comrades welcomed the returnees, including 70 troops who had defended Mariupol during the 2022 siege of the port city.

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the negotiation team on social media, saying, "We will  bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity."

The recent exchange was carried out in three phases over three days and remains the only tangible outcome of the Turkish-hosted talks. While Kyiv continues to advocate for an "all-for-all" prisoner swap, Moscow has so far rejected the proposal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly recently visited Kursk Oblast, which was Putin's first known visit to the region since Moscow declared on April 26 that it had completed a military operation to liberate the territory from Ukrainian forces. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces dismissed the claims, saying that operations by the Ukrainian military in the border region are ongoing.

Ukraine dismisses Russian claims of full control over Kursk Oblast, says fighting ongoing

“The statements by representatives of (Russia) about the alleged end of combat operations in Kursk Oblast do not reflect the actual situation,” Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement.

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General Staff: Russia has lost 980,850 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 980,850 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 25.

The number includes 1,020 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,854 tanks, 22,633 armored fighting vehicles, 49,751 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,269 artillery systems, 1,396 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,169 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 37,367 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Russia launches mass attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian cities for second night in row

Multiple waves of explosions rocked cities across Ukraine as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack overnight. At least 11 people in Kyiv have been injured.

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Russian chemical plant, missile parts manufacturer targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike

A Russian factory in Lipetsk Oblast making missile parts and a chemical plant in Tula Oblast were targeted by drones overnight on May 24, independent news channel Astra reported.

The Energia facility, which lies in the Lipetsk Oblast city of Yelets, was attacked for the second night in a row, with residents reporting at least five explosions overnight, Astra reported.

Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed that drone wreckage fell in the city's industrial district, adding there were no casualties. The extent of damage to the plant is not immediately clear.

The city of Yelets lies some 250 kilometers (150 miles) north of the Russia-Ukraine border.

The Ukrainian military confirmed an earlier attack against the sanctioned facility on May 23, noting that the plant is Russia's "only manufacturer of batteries for glide and correction modules installed on aircraft bombs," and also produces parts for ballistic and cruise missiles.

In Tula Oblast, the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk came under a drone strike, starting a fire, Astra reported. The channel shared footage of what appears to be smoke rising from the targeted facility.

The Azot company specializes in the production of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers, as well as organic plastics, resins, chlorine, nitric acid, and more, according to open sources.

Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of Tula Oblast, confirmed an overnight drone attack, saying that a fire at a gas pipeline in Novomoskovsk was extinguished and three people were injured. The city lies some 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces had downed 104 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 74 in Belgorod Oblast, 24 in Bryansk Oblast, two in Lipetsk Oblast, and one in Tula Oblast.

Ukraine has not commented on the claims, which could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian forces regularly launch long-range drone strikes against Russia's military and industrial targets in the rear, aiming to undermine its ability to wage its all-out war.

Russia hits Kyiv with drones, missiles hours after largest prisoner exchange kicks off

Multiple people were injured as multiple waves of explosions rocked Kyiv overnight on May 24 during a massive Russian drone and missile attack.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

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General Staff: Russia has lost 979,830 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 979,830 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 24.

The number includes 1,130 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,852 tanks, 22,622 armored fighting vehicles, 49,639 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,201 artillery systems, 1,395 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,169 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 37,177 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Chaos to coordination: the evolution of POW swaps in the Russia-Ukraine war

The nature, size, and political significance of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have evolved significantly over the three and a half years of the full-scale war, accelerating sharply in recent weeks. While ceasefire and peace negotiations have gone through periods of halts and bursts, increasingly institutionalized prisoner exchanges are

The Kyiv IndependentMykolaj Suchy

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Ukraine can only wage a 'high-tech war of survival' against Russia, Zaluzhnyi says

Ukraine cannot expect to return Russian-occupied territories as long as Moscow has the resources to continue its war, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K., said on May 22.

Speaking via video at a forum in Kyiv, Zaluzhnyi said that Ukraine can only wage a "high-tech war of survival" using a minimum of human and economic resources.

"Ukraine is not capable of (fighting) another war in terms of demography and economy, and we shouldn’t even entertain the thought," the ambassador added.

According to Zaluzhnyi, the only way to win the war is to destroy Russia's military and economic potential to wage it.

"I hope there is no one left in this hall still waiting for a miracle — for some white swan to bring peace to Ukraine, restore the borders of 1991 or 2022, and after that there will be great happiness in Ukraine," Zaluzhnyi said.

He believes that as long as Russia has the resources, manpower, and capability to strike Ukrainian territory and launch offensives, it will continue to do so.

Ukraine's leadership has consistently vowed to restore the country's 1991 borders, which includes the liberation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas occupied by Russia since 2014.

After the failed 2023 counteroffensive and U.S.'s foreign policy shift this year, Kyiv adjusted its rhetoric. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this February that Russia has to pull back its troops to at least the front line as it was before the 2022 invasion.

In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war, further occupying territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as partially occupying territories in Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Editorial: Russia just said it doesn’t want peace. This is what you need to do

Russia is now saying the quiet part out loud. It has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine. We in Ukraine knew this all along, of course, but to sate the demands of international diplomacy, Moscow and Washington have engaged in a now more than two-month-long peace process that

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