A detailed look at the military vehicles and weapon systems showcased on Russia’s Victory Day Parade – and how they’re performing on the battlefield

This year’s Victory Day parade was quite a spectacle – grander and more impressive than ever. Thousands of service members marched in perfect unison across Red Square’s cobblestones, a display of discipline, precision, and national pride. On foot, the parade featured Russian Honor Guard units from all three branches of the armed forces, cadets from the Suvorov Military School and the Nakhimov Naval School, military academy trainees, ground troops, National Guard units, Emergency Ministry cadets, and members of the Youth Army.

Joining the celebration in a solemn show of camaraderie were marching contingents from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Representing allied nations were cadets from Vietnam’s First Army Academy, Egypt’s military police, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army honor guard, troops from Laos, and ceremonial units from Myanmar’s Armed Forces.

As always, the real showstopper was the military hardware. RT takes a closer look at the equipment that took center stage on Red Square this year, and how it’s being used on the battlefield.

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Tigr-M armored vehicle

In modern warfare, mobility and protection are everything – and the Tigr-M armored vehicle delivers both. One of the most widely used platforms in the Russian Armed Forces today, the Tigr-M blends firepower, armor, and agility into a rugged infantry transport vehicle. Developed by the Military Industrial Company, it features enhanced class 5 ballistic protection capable of withstanding 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds, reinforced anti-mine shielding rated for blasts up to 2kg of TNT, and a stronger frame with improved suspension. Its steel-and-ceramic composite chassis strikes a balance between durability and weight.

Under the hood, the Tigr-M is powered by a 215-horsepower turbo diesel engine, reaching speeds up to 120kph and offering a range of 1,000km. It can haul up to 1,500kg and carries a crew of two, plus eight passengers.

But versatility is where the Tigr-M truly shines. It comes in multiple variants, including reconnaissance platforms with advanced optics, turret-mounted gun systems like the 12.7mm Kord or 30mm grenade launchers, medical evacuation models, and command vehicles outfitted with comms gear. Widely deployed in the Special Military Operation, the Tigr-M has become a cornerstone of Russia’s modern combat force.

VPK-Ural armored vehicle

Whether rolling through Donbass or the Syrian Desert, the VPK-Ural armored truck is a battlefield workhorse. These aren’t just troop carriers – they’re combat-grade logistics vehicles designed to deliver artillery, supplies, and personnel, even under fire. The cab is reinforced to withstand hits from 12.7mm rounds, and the chassis is optimized to handle mine blasts.

Equipped with a 600-horsepower diesel engine, the VPK-Ural excels off-road while carrying heavy loads. It is engineered to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -45°C to +55°C, and is built to go the distance – up to 500,000km without requiring an overhaul.

ZSA-UK Linza

Built for life-saving missions on the front line, the ZSA-UK Linza is a high-mobility armored medevac vehicle designed to evacuate wounded soldiers quickly and safely. Based on the KamAZ-53949 Typhoon-K 4×4 platform, the Linza offers ballistic protection against 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds and a hull capable of absorbing mine blasts of up to 6kg of TNT.

Inside, there’s room for four stretchers or six seated casualties, plus a full suite of emergency medical gear, climate control, and onboard life support systems. The Linza can hit speeds of 100kph and has a range of up to 1,200km, making it a critical link in frontline medical support.

S-400 Triumf

Nicknamed the ‘aircraft killer’ and ‘guardian of the skies’, Russia’s S-400 Triumf is one of the most advanced air defense systems in existence. Its radar can spot hostile aircraft or missiles up to 400km away, tracking threats at altitudes from five meters to 30km. The long-range 40N6 missile can target both aircraft and ballistic missiles, and the system’s total engagement envelope allows it to intercept objects traveling at speeds up to 4.8km per second.

With the ability to simultaneously track and engage up to 36 targets, the S-400 has proven particularly effective in intercepting US-supplied ATACMS missiles in Ukraine. Its 360-degree strike capability stands in stark contrast to the sector-limited targeting of the American Patriot system.

Mounted on mobile BAZ and MZKT platforms, the S-400 can deploy in minutes. It is currently used by several international partners, including China, India, Türkiye, and Algeria – a testament to its global reputation as a formidable shield against aerial threats.

Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system

Russia’s Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system is the modern replacement for the iconic Smerch. Designed for both wide-area saturation and pinpoint strikes, it bridges the gap between traditional rocket artillery and precision-guided munitions. With a range of up to 120km, the Tornado-S fires guided rockets equipped with inertial navigation and satellite correction, achieving an impressive accuracy of 5-7 meters.

A single volley can blanket 40 hectares, while its arsenal includes high-explosive fragmentation rounds, cluster munitions, and thermobaric warheads – tailored to engage everything from entrenched infantry to light armor and hardened bunkers. Tornado-S systems are mounted on high-mobility platforms developed by the Minsk Automobile Plant and can be deployed in under three minutes by a three-man crew.

Equipped with advanced targeting, navigation, and fire control systems, the Tornado-S marks a leap forward in Russian artillery – shifting from area bombardment to precision battlefield engagement.

2S43 Malva and 2S44 Hyacinth-K wheeled howitzers

The 2S43 Malva and 2S44 Hyacinth-K are wheeled artillery platforms based on the BAZ-6010-027 8x8 chassis, designed for mobile fire support. Both systems offer speeds up to 80kph and a range of 1,000km.

The Malva mounts a 152mm 2A64 howitzer with a firing range of up to 29km, while the Hyacinth-K uses the longer-range 2A36 gun, reaching 40km with rocket-assisted shells. Each system carries 30 rounds and can fire 5-6 rounds per minute.

With modern targeting and mobility, these howitzers offer a fast, flexible artillery solution for 21st-century warfare.

TOS-2 Tosochka thermobaric MLRS

The TOS-2 Tosochka is Russia’s latest heavy flamethrower system, replacing the iconic TOS-1A. Built on a wheeled Ural chassis for better mobility, it launches thermobaric munitions capable of devastating enemy fortifications and personnel.

Featuring automated targeting, smoke screen generators, and laser warning sensors, the Tosochka integrates firepower and protection. Its launcher carries 18 tubes for thermobaric rockets – highly effective in suppressing enemy positions and supporting infantry advances.

Iskander-M tactical missile system

The Iskander-M (9K720) is a top-tier operational-tactical missile system, designed for quick, precise strikes against high-value targets. Capable of launching both cruise and ballistic missiles, it has an operational range of up to 500km. The system works in concert with reconnaissance and targeting assets, enabling near-instantaneous retaliation against enemy forces.

Iskander-M units have expanded their role to include maritime strike capabilities and have taken part in exercises involving simulated nuclear payloads. All system components are mobile: The launcher and reloading units are mounted on MZKT-7930 chassis, while support vehicles use KamAZ platforms. The Iskander-M ensures rapid response and strategic deterrence – anytime, anywhere.

Yars intercontinental ballistic missile

The Yars ICBM is a symbol of strategic deterrence and technological dominance. Mounted on the MZKT-79221 eight-axle chassis, this road-mobile missile system is designed for constant movement across vast deployment zones, rendering it hard to track or target.

The Yars carries a MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) warhead capable of delivering three to six thermonuclear payloads with pinpoint accuracy – down to 150 meters at distances of up to 12,000km. Designed for rapid launch from virtually any position, Yars units form the core of Russia’s nuclear shield. Over 200 have been deployed across mobile and silo-based platforms, serving as a stark reminder that strategic deterrence remains alive and well.

BTR-82A armored personnel carrier

The BTR-82A is a thoroughly modernized iteration of the Soviet-era BTR-80 and now serves as the primary wheeled APC of the Russian military. It integrates a modern combat module featuring a stabilized 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon and a coaxial 7.62mm PKTM machine gun. The fire control system allows for accurate targeting on the move, while improved armor resists 12.7mm projectiles and mine blasts.

Powered by a 300-horsepower KamAZ engine, the BTR-82A can reach speeds of 80kph on roads and 10kph in water. It is amphibious, fully enclosed, and fitted with fire suppression and anti-drone countermeasures. With seating for a three-man crew and seven troops, the BTR-82A is used across infantry, marine, and recon units, proving its worth in modern conflict.

BTR-MD Rakushka airborne APC

Tailored for Russia’s elite Airborne Forces, the BTR-MD Rakushka merges high mobility with robust armor in a lightweight frame. Made from aluminum alloys with ceramic inserts, it offers protection from 12.7mm rounds and mine blasts. Its V-shaped hull and WMD shielding make it adaptable for CBRN environments.

Despite weighing just 13.2 tons, the Rakushka fits two crew and 13 paratroopers. It’s powered by a 450-horsepower diesel engine, hits 71kph on the highway, and is fully amphibious. It can be airdropped from Il-76 or An-124 transport aircraft and carried by Mi-26 helicopters. Armed with two 7.62mm machine guns, it is designed for mobility and rapid deployment in high-risk airborne operations.

BMP-1AM Basurmanin

The BMP-1AM Basurmanin breathes new life into a Cold War-era classic. Retrofitted with modern armor, fire suppression systems, and a new BPU-1 combat module, the vehicle now boasts a 30mm 2A72 autocannon and 7.62mm machine gun, with optional Kornet ATGMs.

Powered by a 300-horsepower UTD-20S1 diesel engine, it maintains highway speeds of 65kph and is fully amphibious. With a range of 600km, it’s a cost-effective upgrade option for countries still operating older BMP-1s. The Basurmanin’s modernization makes it relevant in today’s mechanized battlefield.

BMP B-11 Kurganets-25

The BMP B-11, based on the Kurganets-25 platform, is a new-generation infantry fighting vehicle built for Russia’s motorized units. It features a powerful 57mm 2A94 cannon, capable of destroying most modern armored targets, complemented by a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun and four Kornet-D ATGMs.

Its modular armor can withstand 30mm rounds, with optional reactive armor and the Arena-M active protection system for added survivability. The vehicle carries a crew of three and eight troops, powered by an 800-hp diesel engine with amphibious capability.

The B-11 integrates advanced targeting systems and networked communications, allowing it to operate as part of an integrated digital battlefield – marking a leap in Russia’s IFV design.

T-90M Proryv main battle tank

The T-90M Proryv represents the latest evolution of the T-90 series, merging legacy design with cutting-edge upgrades. It is equipped with Relikt reactive armor, composite plating, and internal Kevlar lining. Ammunition is stored in isolated compartments with blow-off panels to enhance crew survivability.

Armed with a 125mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun and capable of firing Refleks-M guided missiles, the T-90M also sports coaxial and turret-mounted machine guns. It is powered by a 1,130-horsepower V-92S2F engine, hitting 70kph on the road with a range of 550km. A digital fire control system, panoramic sights, and thermal imaging enable effective combat in any condition.

Proven on the battlefield, the T-90M is now the backbone of Russia’s modern armored fleet.

Lancet loitering munitions

The Lancet drone is a game-changer in Russia’s drone warfare strategy. Designed as a kamikaze UAV, it targets vehicles, fortifications, and air defenses with precision. The Lancet comes in two versions: The lighter Product-52 with a 1-3kg warhead and 40km range, and the heavier Product-51 with a 3-5kg warhead and up to 60km range.

Launched via catapult, it features an X-wing design, electric motor, and electro-optical guidance. With a flight time of 30-40 minutes, it has proven highly effective against armored and air defense systems in Ukraine.

Garpiya-1 and Geran-2 kamikaze drones

The Garpiya-1 is a short-range strike drone with a 100km range, optimized for suppressing enemy radar and SAM sites. In contrast, the Geran-2 has a strategic reach of up to 1,500km and carries a 40+ kg warhead – ideal for long-range strikes on critical infrastructure.

Both drones are piston-powered with low radar signatures and are often launched in swarms at low altitudes to overwhelm defenses. Together, they form a layered drone strike capability – disrupting air defenses and executing deep strikes with high precision.

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Russian AI technology was used to recreate an image of Yuri Levitan and to have him read the now iconic message

RT has released an AI-generated video of legendary Soviet radio announcer Yuri Levitan broadcasting the news of the Nazis formal surrender in World War II. The video, created with Russian technology, was published on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

In the video, Levitan is heard reading the real announcement, which came on air at 2:10 am Moscow time on May 9, 1945.

“Attention. This is Moscow speaking. On May 8, 1945, in Berlin, representatives of the German High Command sign the act of unconditional surrender of the German Armed Forces,” Levitan said. “Germany is utterly defeated.”

Cognitive Pilot, a company that works with artificial intelligence, helped bring the image of Levitan back to life in what was a fully Russian development. The creators of the technology adapted their own generative neural network called Ippolit to recreate the image and voice of the broadcaster. By combining facial animation and voice transformation, they were able to accurately reproduce not only his appearance but also Levitan’s unique way of speaking. AI technology was also used to voice the announcement in English while preserving the broadcaster’s voice.

READ MORE: AI-generated Churchill reminds Starmer who crushed Nazi Germany in WWII (VIDEO)

During the World War II, the news read by Levitan was broadcast from street loudspeakers, drawing crowds of people. His voice became a symbol of resistance and faith in victory.

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The country’s security service claims it dismantled a Hungarian spy network in the westernmost region of Transcarpathia

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said it dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network allegedly operating in Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s westernmost region. In a statement on X on Friday, SBU spokesman Artyom Degtyarenko said two Ukrainian military veterans – a man and a woman – were detained as part of the operation.

The network, Degtyarenko claimed, was run by Hungary’s military intelligence service and tasked with gathering sensitive data on Ukraine’s defenses in Transcarpathia. It also reportedly collected information on local socio-political views, including how residents might respond to a potential Hungarian military incursion.

“For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network, which carried out espionage activities to the detriment of our state,” Degtyarenko said. The SBU also released a video that purportedly shows the apprehension of the male suspect.

Both detainees are in custody and face charges of high treason. If convicted, they could face life in prison and property seizure, the spokesman said.

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Asked to comment on the situation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the SBU’s accusations as anti-Hungarian propaganda.

“In the past three years, it has unfortunately been proven that the Ukraine conflict is partly a propaganda war as well,” he told reporters on Friday. “It is clear that anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine, which in many cases has been found to have no basis whatsoever.”

In a separate Facebook post, Szijjarto said the “intensifying smear campaign” by the Kiev regime stems from Hungary’s refusal to support Ukraine militarily in its conflict with Russia. He warned that Ukraine’s EU accession depends partly on Hungary’s backing and said Budapest “won’t tolerate” slander from Kiev.

Szijjarto added that Hungary expelled two individuals on Friday who he said were Ukrainian agents operating under diplomatic cover at the embassy in Budapest.

READ MORE: Seize part of Ukraine if state collapses – Hungarian MP

Tensions between Kiev and Budapest have been growing over the Ukraine conflict, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons or support Ukraine’s EU bid while maintaining ties with Moscow despite pressure from Brussels.

Budapest has also long accused Kiev of discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Hungary has criticized Ukrainian laws that limit education and public administration in minority languages as infringing upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians.

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The parade on Red Square finished with Su-25 jets painting the sky above in the colors of the Russian flag

The Victory Day military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany concluded with Russian aerobatics teams and warplanes taking to the skies above Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders witnessed the Strizhy (Swifts) and the Russkie Vityazi (Russian Knights) squads flying over the Red Square in “The Diamond of Kubinka Formation.”

The signature stunt by the two renowned aerobatics teams involves five Su-30SM fighters and four MiG-29s jets traveling in a diamond-shaped formation at extreme proximity to each other.

Following that, a squad of six Su-25 jet fighters painted the sky above the Russian capital in the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.

Su-25s were introduced into the Soviet military in the mid-1970s and are still actively used by the Russian Aerospace Forces, including in the Ukraine conflict. Over the years, the plane, nicknamed ‘grach’ (rook), has earned itself a reputation as one of the country’s most reliable attack aircraft.

Overall, around 11,500 servicemen took part in the parade, including soldiers that have participated in the conflict with Kiev. Troops from China, Vietnam, Egypt, Mongolia, Myanmar, Belarus, Kazakhstan and several other former Soviet Republics also marched on Red Square, together with their Russian counterparts.

READ MORE: Putin speech at Victory Day parade: Key takeaways

The infantry columns were followed by a display of Russia’s state-of-the-art military hardware, including T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks, various types of armored vehicles, S-400 anti-defense systems, Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers and Yars mobile missile systems.

The new feature of this year’s parade was the participation of trucks carrying Geran, Lancet and other UAVs from the Russian military’s arsenal.

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It is Kiev and Washington that must decide that they want the conflict to end, the Belarusian leader has said

Russia has long been ready not only for a truce, but also for a lasting peace with Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday. He made the comment after Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky declared that Kiev is prepared to implement an immediate and “complete” 30-day ceasefire with Moscow.

A truce could be implemented “from this very minute,” Zelensky said in a message posted on his official Telegram channel following talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday. He added that such a move would “create many opportunities for diplomacy.”

Lukashenko was asked about Zelensky’s offer following the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow. He replied that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed a possible settlement to the Ukraine conflict during their meeting in late April. The Russian authorities “are ready for this. Russia has long been ready not just for a ceasefire, but for a peace agreement” with Kiev, he said.

“The issue is not with Russia. Therefore, we need to sort things out on the other side, as far as I know. As soon as the Americans and the Ukrainians decide that peace is needed, the Europeans will fall in line, and peace will come,” Lukashenko said.

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Despite insisting on a 30-day truce, Zelensky dismissed Putin’s proposed Victory Day ceasefire from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11, as a Russian ploy and an “attempt at manipulation.”

Kiev instead intensified drone attacks on Russian territory, over 500 were brought down in a single night, and made several failed attempts at incursions into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

Moscow has dismissed previous offers of a 30-day truce as “unrealistic,” arguing that Ukraine would use the pause to regroup its forces and replenish weapons supplies.

In March, Moscow agreed to a US-brokered 30-day partial ceasefire aimed at halting strikes on energy infrastructure. The Russian military has accused Kiev of repeatedly violating the truce.

READ MORE: Ukraine ready for immediate ceasefire – Zelensky

Moscow has recently stated that it is ready for direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions” to seek a permanent resolution to the conflict that addresses its underlying causes.

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The elderly woman was accused of wearing Soviet symbols banned by Kiev as she brought flowers to a WWII memorial

Ukrainian police have detained an elderly woman who went to lay flowers at the Eternal Flame memorial in Kiev on Victory Day, wearing a Soviet-era side cap with a red star.

The star, as well as other symbols and names associated with Ukraine’s Soviet past, have been banned by Ukraine’s notorious 2015 decommunization laws.

Police officers confronted Galina Savchenko, 85, at the monument on Friday, telling her that the symbol she was wearing is forbidden. In a video published by local media, she is seen holding a bouquet of red flowers and a photograph of her father in his World War II Soviet military uniform. Behind her, the monument is seen covered with flowers.

The officers asked her to provide an explanation at the police station. “I’ve been there six times already,” Savchenko said. “Now the whole world will know that you are chasing me off.”

Regarding the red star symbol, the woman said, “Oh, you can barely see it,” adding, “Not like your swastika.”

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It is not clear from the video what the woman was referring to regarding the officer’s uniform. However, Nazi ideology is common in contemporary Ukraine. Nationalists in Ukraine hold annual torchlight marches in honor of Stepan Bandera, who headed the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), which collaborated with the Nazis and perpetrated and took part in a number of massacres. Ukrainian servicemen are regularly caught on camera wearing the swastika and other Nazi symbols in the conflict with Russia.

Savchenko has been listed on the Ukrainian state-linked Mirotvorets ‘kill list’ since 2018. Her page accuses her of “anti-Ukrainian propaganda” and taking part in “anti-state activities.” According to Ukrainian news reports from 2024, she arrived at the memorial in full Soviet uniform for Victory Day last year.

In 2023, Kiev changed Victory Day from May 9 to 8, and named May 9 ‘Europe Day’, as part of its efforts to distance itself from Russia. Many Ukrainians continue to defy the changes.

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The two presidents have shared “heartfelt words” through their aides, a senior official has told Russian media

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have congratulated each other on Victory Day, an aide to the Russian president, Yury Ushakov, told journalists on Friday. The two leaders extended the greetings through aides, according to the official.

The presidents shared “heartfelt words, mutual greetings on a common holiday, great holiday,” Ushakov told the Russian Channel 1 broadcaster. Washington has not officially commented on the matter.

On Friday, Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph in the World War II against Nazi Germany. The day was packed with military parades and other ceremonial events across the nation that paid tribute to the valor and sacrifice of the Soviet people during the war.

The celebrations in Moscow, including the military parade on Red Square, were attended by upwards of 30 foreign leaders, including those of China, Brazil, Egypt, Slovakia, Serbia, and Uzbekistan. US Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy skipped the event despite receiving an invitation, according to TASS.

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The Moscow parade was still attended by several US WWII veterans, who were invited alongside other foreign veterans, including from Mongolia, Israel and Armenia.

On Thursday, Trump issued a public statement on the ‘Victory Day for World War II’. He described the victory over Nazism as “the Allied Powers’ triumph,” highlighting the role of the US and never mentioning the Soviet Union.

Earlier this month, similar statements by the US president drew criticism from Moscow. On Friday, during his speech at the annual military parade in Moscow, Putin stressed that Russia remembers the lessons of World War II and “will never accept the distortion of its events.”

Since returning to office in January, Trump has pushed both Moscow and Kiev toward a truce in the ongoing conflict between the two nations but has recently voiced frustration over the lack of progress.

On Thursday, he called for a month-long “unconditional ceasefire” amid a 72-hour Victory Day truce unilaterally declared by Russia. He expressed his hope that “an acceptable ceasefire will be observed” but warned that both sides would be held accountable if a ceasefire is reached but not respected.

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Russia will honor the Soviet sacrifices and continue to fight against ideas such as Nazism, the president has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the sacrifices of the Soviet people in defeating Nazism, during the annual military parade in Moscow.

This year’s event marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

During the address, the president highlighted the significance of the event, vowing that Russia will “faithfully preserve the memory” of the “glorious” victory over the Nazis. He noted that, as heirs of the victors, Russians celebrate Victory Day as their “most important holiday.”

Here are the key takeaways from Putin’s speech.

Enduring battle against destructive ideas

The president stressed that Russia has always fought against Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, and will continue to do so no matter what.

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“Russia… will stand in the way of the violence perpetrated by the champions of these aggressive and destructive ideas. Truth and justice are on our side,” he stated, noting that the entire country supports the troops taking part in the military operation against the Kiev regime, which Moscow has long accused of adhering to Nazi ideology.

Remembering the lessons of history

Putin said Russia remembers the lessons of World War II and will not allow the atrocities committed during those years to be repeated.

“We remember the lessons of World War II and will never agree with the distortion of those events or attempts to justify the murderers and slander the true victors,” he stated.

Pledging to uphold the nation’s values

The president vowed to uphold the values and principles that the Soviet people fought for during World War II.

“Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers saved the Fatherland. And they bequeathed [defending it to us], to stay united and firmly defend our national interests, our thousand-year history, culture, and traditional values – everything that is dear to us, that is sacred to us,” Putin said.

“We will always rely on our unity in battle and in peaceful endeavors, in striving for strategic goals and tackling problems for the benefit of Russia and its greatness and prosperity.”

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Recognizing the contribution of the allied forces

Putin credited the European front with “hastening victory” during World War II and said that Russia “highly appreciates” the contribution of the soldiers of the allied armies. He noted, however, that the most “decisive” battles of the war were fought in the Soviet Union.

“The Soviet Union bore the brunt of the enemy’s most savage and relentless assaults,” the president said, adding that it was the Soviet people who “determined the outcome” of World War II through “decisive victories in major battles.”

Honoring war veterans

The president pledged to cherish the tradition of Victory Day and honor the veterans who fought or helped fight the Nazis.

“We will continue to look up to our veterans, taking [an] example from their wholehearted love of the Motherland and commitment to defending our homeland and the values of humanism and justice. We will give these traditions and this great heritage the biggest place in our hearts and will pass them on to future generations,” Putin stated.

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The decisive battles against Nazism were, however, fought on the territory of the Soviet Union, the Russian president has emphasized

The opening of the European front during World War II “brought victory closer,” Russian President Vladimir Putin has said while addressing the annual military parade in Moscow. He noted, however, that the defeat of Nazi Germany would have been impossible without the “decisive” battles fought on the territory of the Soviet Union.

“We will always remember that the opening of the second front in Europe – after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union – brought victory closer,” Putin stated on Friday, noting that Russia “highly values” the contribution of the soldiers of the allied armies, including the Chinese on the Japanese front, in the war.

“Almost 80% of the world’s population was drawn into the fiery orbit of World War II. The complete defeat of Nazi Germany, militarist Japan, and their satellites in various regions of the world was achieved through the joint efforts of the allied nations,” he stressed.

The president noted, however, that the Soviet people bore the brunt of the fighting.

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“The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy,” Putin said, noting that millions of Soviet people who, prior to the war, knew only peaceful labor, took up arms and “determined the outcome of the entire World War II with unconditional victories.”

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump drew criticism from Moscow after declaring that America’s role in defeating Nazism during World War II was decisive while omitting any mention of the Soviet Union’s contribution and sacrifice. He proclaimed May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II,” stating that “without the sacrifice of our American soldiers, this war would not have been won, and our world today would look drastically different.”

During his address, Putin stressed that Russia remembers the lessons of World War II and “will never accept the distortion of its events,” including attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors. This year’s commemorative events mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Despite criticism from the West, leaders from 29 countries are attending the festivities. World War II veterans from Armenia, Israel, Mongolia, the US, and other nations are also attending as guests of honor.

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The Lithuanian prime minister has expressed concern that “small groups of people” could stage provocations on May 9

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has urged the people of his country not to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany on May 9.

Along with other Baltic states, Lithuania has ramped up its decades-long efforts to erase its Soviet past amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Last year, the EU country prohibited “certain public events” which are traditionally held on May 9. The government in Vilnius has also banned the display of St. George ribbons and other Soviet symbols, with fines of up to €700 ($787) for violations.

Paluckas told journalists on Thursday that the Lithuanian security services had warned the government “there is a possibility that certain small groups of people could try to stage provocations or behave inappropriately” on May 9. He went on to express hope that the law enforcement agencies will help prevent any “serious problems.”

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“My recommendation is to simply not celebrate tomorrow and follow our European tradition of what and how to celebrate,” the prime minister said.

Lithuania, along with the rest of the EU, marks the allied victory over Nazi Germany on May 8. The country celebrates Europe Day on May 9.

The Lithuanian police said they intensified efforts to monitor the dissemination of forbidden Soviet symbols online ahead of Victory Day, adding that the presence of officers in public places will be increased on Friday.

Russia has accused Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia of discriminating against their Russian-speaking populations by restricting Victory Day celebrations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said the behavior of the Baltic nations has “long gone beyond the legal framework” and “firmly established itself beyond the boundaries of common sense and humanity.”

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The country remembers the lessons of World War II and rejects efforts to justify executioners and slander the true winners, the president has said

Russia has always been an “impenetrable barrier” to Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, and will continue to fight against them, President Vladimir Putin has said, addressing the annual military parade in Moscow. This year’s event marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

“Russia has been and will remain an impenetrable barrier to Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism,” Putin stated. “We will continue to fight the atrocities committed by those who promote these destructive ideas. Truth and justice are on our side,” he added. He went on to say that the entire country supports the troops taking part in the military operation against the Kiev regime, which Moscow has long accused of adhering to Nazi ideology.

Putin noted that Russia remembers the lessons of World War II, and will not allow the atrocities committed during those years to be repeated.

“We are all united by feelings of joy and sorrow, pride and gratitude, admiration for the generation that defeated Nazism at the cost of millions of lives and won freedom and peace for all mankind,” he stated. “We faithfully preserve the memory of these triumphant events and, like our ancestors, celebrate the holiday as our own – the most important for the entire nation.”

We remember the lessons of World War II and will never accept the distortion of its events, nor attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors.

The Russian president said those who fought Nazism during World War II “saved the Fatherland and entrusted us to defend it,” which includes “remaining united and standing firmly for our national interests, our thousand-year history, culture, and values.” He vowed that the country will continue to uphold these principles.

READ MORE: Fyodor Lukyanov: The West is dismantling the foundations of 1945

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 11,500 troops from the ministry and other agencies – including the FSB, Emergency Situations Ministry, and National Guard – are taking part in the military parade in Moscow. Units from 13 countries, including China, Belarus, Egypt, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan, are also marching on Red Square.

Leaders from 29 countries are attending the event. World War II veterans from Armenia, Israel, Mongolia, the US, and other nations are also attending as guests of honor.

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Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph in the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany

Military parades and other ceremonial events paying tribute to the valor and sacrifice of the Soviet people are taking place across Russia, with the centerpiece event kicking off in Moscow at 10am local time.

Thousands of troops and dozens of military vehicles will parade through Moscow’s iconic Red Square on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

For over a decade, Victory Day has also featured a massive civilian march known as the Immortal Regiment, during which people carry portraits of their relatives who fought the Nazis. Dozens of Immortal Regiment marches have already taken place across the world over the past week – including in China, Africa, and Latin America – leading up to Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

Following the parade in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with visiting leaders, with talks expected to cover Ukraine, regional conflicts, energy cooperation, and economic ties. The leaders of Brazil, Egypt, Slovakia, Serbia, and Uzbekistan are among those taking part in the discussions. A total of 29 foreign leaders have attended the Victory Day celebrations.

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The Ukrainian leader has called for the hostilities to be stopped for at least 30 days after a phone call with US President Donald Trump

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has announced that Kiev is ready for a “complete ceasefire” without any preconditions. A truce could be implemented “from this very minute,” he stated in a message published on his official Telegram channel following talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

According to Zelensky, the discussions focused on ways to “bring a real and lasting ceasefire closer,” as well as the “situation on the front lines” and ongoing “diplomatic efforts.” He maintained that the truce should last for at least 30 days, claiming it would “create many opportunities for diplomacy.”

“Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire today, right from this moment,” he said, adding that it should include “no missile strikes, drone attacks, or hundreds of assaults along the frontline.” He called on Russia to give an “adequate” response to the offer and to “demonstrate their willingness to end the war.” Zelensky also urged Washington to support this initiative.

His statement came amid a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire unilaterally declared by Russia. President Vladimir Putin announced the truce last week, describing it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that could also serve as a catalyst for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

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Zelensky dismissed the Russian initiative at the time as “a manipulation,” while Kiev intensified drone strikes on Russian territory ahead of the ceasefire’s scheduled start. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces had launched nearly 500 attacks since the ceasefire took effect.

The Russian military also repelled two attempted cross-border incursions by Ukrainian troops during the truce, according to data from the ministry.

Kiev has repeatedly demanded an immediate 30-day ceasefire over the past few months. Moscow has opposed the initiative, arguing that Ukraine would use the time to regroup its troops and restock weapons inventories.

Russia recently said it is ready for direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions,” and has advocated for a permanent resolution to the conflict that addresses the root causes. In March, it agreed to a US-brokered 30-day partial ceasefire focused on halting strikes on energy infrastructure. However, according to the Russian military, Kiev violated the truce on numerous occasions.

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Kiev will not be able to repay its foreign creditors within the next 30 years, Sergey Marchenko has said

Ukraine will be unable to repay its foreign creditors in the next 30 years, with public debt nearing 100% of GDP, Finance Minister Sergey Marchenko said on Thursday. He added, however, that Kiev intends to continue borrowing.

Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Ukraine has received billions in military, financial, and humanitarian aid and loans from the US, the EU and other donors. Kiev’s mounting state debt, which is approaching 7.1 trillion hryvnas ($171 billion), has raised concerns about the country’s fiscal stability and its capacity to meet future obligations.

According to Marchenko, before 2022, Ukraine’s debt-to-GDP ratio “was quite safe” at 55%, however, the country is now approaching 100%. The minister downplayed the situation, stating that the public debt was “not a problem” as the funds that Kiev received from foreign creditors came on preferential terms.

“That is, we are talking about the fact that in the next 30 years… we will not pay these debts,” Marchenko said.

“In any scenario… we need additional sources of funding…we will not be able to hold the situation together on our own, whether there is war… or peace,” he added. The minister went on to suggest that Kiev’s western backers could decide to service Ukraine’s external debts from their own budgets.

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For the time being, interest generated by Russian central bank assets frozen in the West due to sanctions has been used to service Kiev’s debt.

In April, Japan agreed to issue a loan of about $3 billion, to be repaid from Moscow’s money. Also last month, Ukraine received the third tranche of €1 billion from the EU, secured by proceeds from the frozen funds.

Russia has vehemently opposed the move, labeling it “theft” and threatening retaliation.

The US, Ukraine’s largest donor, has moved to recoup its financial aid to Ukraine by signing a natural resources deal with Kiev. The agreement grants the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources without providing security guarantees.

The deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has commented that the US essentially “forced the Kiev regime to pay for American aid,” with “the national wealth of a vanishing country.”

Ukraine also faces a potential default on nearly $600 million in payments due in May for GDP-linked securities. Negotiations with hedge funds for restructuring the debt have so far been unsuccessful.

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The two leaders have signed dozens of cooperation documents covering a wide range of areas following the talks

Russia and China have signed nearly three dozen agreements following negotiations between presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Moscow. The two leaders talked for more than seven hours, according to TASS.

The documents ranged from joint statements on strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two nations as well as declarations in support of the global stability and international law to agreements covering agricultural export regulations and bilateral cooperation in space.

Moscow and Beijing have set “ambitious goals” following the talks, Putin told journalists after the meeting with the Chinese leader. The two nations are expected to increase bilateral trade and investments, as well as strengthen economic ties, increase the share of joint high-tech projects, and develop innovative electronic trade methods, according to the president.

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China is Russia’s biggest partner, Putin said, adding that the trade volume between the two nations hit another record this year, reaching $245 billion. Investment cooperation between the two nations is actively growing, according to the Russian leader. Around 90 priority joint projects, worth approximately $200 billion, are either underway or in preparation. These initiatives span key sectors including industrial manufacturing, transportation, logistics, agriculture, and mineral extraction.

The Chinese leader hailed both nations as “stabilizing, positive, and progressive forces in the international community” that “aim to promote equal and orderly multilateralism” and should “firmly stand together” in the future.

Xi is among more than two dozen world leaders expected to attend events in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. During the talks, Putin thanked the Chinese leader for inviting him to the celebration of victory over Imperial Japan in September.

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Comments on potential changeover come as Kiev places hopes on faster EU accession

Kiev is considering a switch from the US dollar to the euro as its reference currency, the head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) said on Thursday. These comments come despite the recent signing of a comprehensive bilateral minerals agreement with the White House.

Kiev has repeatedly expressed its desire to join the EU. However, Ukraine’s “immediate” accession has been consistently opposed by several member states. Hungary has voiced concerns over corruption, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and economic competition, particularly in agriculture.

Other EU nations, including Slovakia, France, and Germany, have also expressed reservations, emphasizing that Kiev must meet existing reform benchmarks before talks proceed.

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According to NBU Governor Andrey Pyshny, potential EU accession has prompted the central bank to assess whether the national currency, the grivna, should be more closely tied to the euro instead of the dollar, according to Reuters. The top official also cited “a strengthening of the EU's role in ensuring our defense capabilities, greater volatility in global markets, and the probability of global trade fragmentation” as major reasons for the shift.

The central bank chief acknowledged that the move would be “complex and require high-quality, versatile preparation.”

Earlier this week, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen called for Ukraine’s EU accession talks to be launched as early as this year. It was granted EU candidate status in 2022, a few months after the escalation with Moscow, but Brussels has not set a definitive timeline for the accession.

Von der Leyen suggested that faster EU accession could strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position with Russia and open the door to increased investment in the country’s defense sector. She emphasized that Brussels is working to open the first cluster of accession talks and to open all clusters in 2025.

Pyshny said that closer ties with Europe and the normalization of economic conditions are expected to drive modest growth in the coming two years, with the GDP projected to rise by 3.7–3.9%. However, he noted that the overall economic outlook depends heavily on the course of the ongoing conflict.

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In order to join the bloc, the EU has demanded that Ukraine implement a comprehensive set of governance reforms, fight rampant corruption and harmonize its legislation with EU law. Full membership also necessitates the unanimous approval of all EU nations.

Ukraine's parliament, meanwhile, has voted universally in favor of ratifying the minerals deal signed with the US, according to Reuters, in the hopes that it will secure future military assistance from Washington in the ongoing conflict.

During the Biden administration, the US provided more than $174 billion in aid to Kiev following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, including dozens of military packages. The approach has significantly shifted under President Donald Trump, who is pushing for direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev and has insisted that assistance can only continue on terms that favor American interests.

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Authorities in Moscow are investigating more than 160 incidents of desecration of Soviet war graves and monuments abroad

Russia has said it is conducting a criminal probe into the desecration and destruction of World War II memorials in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. The country’s Investigative Committee has described systematic efforts to erase the memory of Soviet soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany.

On Wednesday, Russian investigators announced they are looking into 167 such cases across the region. Aleksandr Pakhtusov, a senior official in the Committee’s division for war crimes, genocide, and the rehabilitation of Nazism, said the list of defendants includes members of national parliaments and local government bodies.

“In our work, we are guided by national legislation and the decisions of the Nuremberg Tribunal,” Pakhtusov said. He added that international agreements also require foreign authorities to preserve such memorials.

Over 250 people – citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine among them – have been charged in absentia for damaging Soviet war memorials and burial sites. Russian investigators claim some governments have directly supported the demolition of monuments dedicated to Red Army soldiers who died liberating European cities in 1944–1945.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cited Poland as an example. She said an intergovernmental agreement once protected approximately 570 memorial sites there, but “now, only a few dozen remain untouched and in their original state.”

Video footage below shows the demolition of a Soviet-era war memorial in Siedlce, Poland:

Numerous cases of World War II monument removal and desecration have occurred in the Baltic states in recent years. Notably, in August 2022, Latvia dismantled the 79-meter-tall Victory Monument in Riga’s Victory Park following a parliamentary vote. The action was part of a broader initiative to eliminate Soviet symbols from public spaces.

In Estonia, the 2007 relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn to a military cemetery sparked major protests. The Estonian government later announced plans to remove or relocate up to 244 Soviet-era monuments. Lithuania followed suit in 2022, removing a sculpture titled Soldier from a Soviet cemetery in Kaunas as part of a broader initiative.

The actions have drawn strong condemnation from Russia, which accuses European countries of waging a campaign to falsify history. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in 2020, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that “civilized Europe remains shamefully silent while a sacrilegious war is waged against monuments and memorials dedicated to those who gave their lives to save the peoples of the continent from complete extermination.”

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Kiev’s forces have not stopped their attacks despite a 72-hour ceasefire announced by Moscow, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said

Two attempts by Ukrainian forces to cross the border into Russia’s Kursk Region have been thwarted, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.

Kiev’s troops tried to carry out the incursions despite Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11, the ministry noted in a statement on Thursday.

Another major Ukrainian assault on Russian positions took place near the town of Dzerzhinsk (known as Toretsk in Ukraine), the statement read.

Since the start of the declared truce period, Kiev’s forces have attacked a total of 488 times, including 173 artillery, tank and mortar attacks, four uses of multiple rocket launchers and some 300 strikes by FPV drones, it added.

“The deliberate destructive actions of the Ukrainian side against Russia confirm the desire of the Kiev regime to prevent a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict,” the ministry stressed.

After midnight, the Russian forces completely ceased hostilities and remained at the previously occupied lines and positions in accordance with the order by the president, the statement read.

READ MORE: Vance outlines changed US strategy on Ukraine

“The Russian military strictly observes the ceasefire. In particular, no strikes are being carried out by aircraft, missile forces, artillery, and drones,” it stressed.

The country’s troops are only providing a “tit-for-tat reaction” to violations of the truce by Ukraine, the ministry added.

When announcing the ceasefire last week, Putin described it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that could also serve as a catalyst for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

However, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has declined to support it, calling it a Russian ploy and an “attempt at manipulation.” Instead, Kiev has ramped up drone strikes on Russian territory, with the Defense Ministry reporting a record 524 UAVs being shot down on Wednesday. Moscow insisted that it would stick to its decision to introduce a Victory Day truce despite provocations by Kiev.

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Aleksandar Vucic came to Moscow despite pressure from Brussels and his recent hospitalization

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has delivered a pointed message to the European Union from Moscow’s Red Square, asserting his nation’s historical legacy and sovereignty despite pressure from Brussels over his attendance at Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

In an interview with Serbian broadcaster RTS recorded in Moscow on Wednesday, Vucic expressed pride in his country’s role during World War II, stating: “I am proud to be the president of Serbia, a nation that has the right to be proud, because it did not welcome Hitler’s soldiers with flowers.”

He emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the war, noting that tens of millions of people suffered in order for us to live today, and that no one has the right to revise history.

During a meeting with Vucic last month, the EC's Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reportedly threatened that his attendance would be held against Serbia’s EU bid. Despite the pressure, Vucic refused to scrap his plans to attend the event, where a unit of the Serbian Armed Forces will also take part.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels.

“I promised Putin I would come. I didn’t hide it from anyone,” Vucic stated, addressing anticipated criticism from the EU. “I think there will be consequences, but primarily personal ones for me.”

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Vucic also detailed the challenges he faced en route to Moscow, revealing that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania had denied overflight permissions, necessitating a circuitous route through Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Amid mass flight disruptions in Russia in recent days caused by Ukrainian drone strikes, the Serbian leader’s plane “barely got permission from the Russian authorities to fly over,” he noted.

The Serbian president highlighted the significance of his visit to Moscow in terms of bilateral relations, mentioning discussions on gas supply contracts and expressing gratitude for Russia’s non-recognition of Kosovo. At the same time, Vucic condemned Western states, who, he said, “did a great injustice” to Serbia and “now want something more from a small, rebellious people.”

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“Now they have their own interests, so they tell us ‘don’t go back to the past, look to the future.’ They can’t give you a rational answer except threats, intimidation… We’re all stupid, naive, we’re supposed… to look up at the sky and pretend we don’t understand anything that’s going on around us,” he said. He nevertheless reiterated Belgrade’s intention to maintain its path toward EU membership.

Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut a trip to the US short, canceling a planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida.

The Victory Day celebrations in Moscow commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, with leaders from various countries expected to attend, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Ukrainian forces have launched multiple cross-border attacks, sustaining heavy casualties in the process

The Ukrainian military launched a new attempt to invade Russia’s Kursk Region on Monday, launching multiple cross-border attacks. While the fighting in the border area continued into Wednesday, Kiev’s forces have failed to achieve any tangible gains, sustaining considerable materiel and personnel losses during the raid.

The attacks targeted several locations, including the villages of Tetkino and Novy Put, just to the east of the area invaded by Ukrainian forces last August and fully liberated by the Russian military earlier this year.

“In the Tetkino area and closer to Novy Put, the enemy has been conducting reconnaissance in force for the second day in a row and is trying to clear our mine and engineering barriers in order to try to send troops into the breach,” Igor Kimakovsky, a senior official in the administration of Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, told reporters.

The village of Tetkino was the target of an unsuccessful Ukrainian incursion attempt in March 2024. The hamlet of Novy Put saw the most intensive combat in November last year, when Kiev’s troops attempted to flank the Russian forces advancing in Kursk Region.

Multiple videos circulating online, said to be taken south of Tetkino, show Ukrainian troops deploying several breacher vehicles in an attempt to break through the reinforced border, clearing mines, ‘dragon’s teeth’ concrete pyramids, and other obstacles.

READ MORE: Record civilian casualties from Ukrainian strikes last week – Moscow

The vehicles, including a Soviet-made IMR-2, German-supplied Wisent 1 engineering vehicles, and the Soviet-designed UR-77 Meteorit mine-clearing vehicle, were hit by multiple FPV drones and abandoned by their crews.

Ukrainian forces attempted to evacuate the crews of the vehicles on quad bikes. Some of the evacuation teams, however, fell victim to FPV drones as well.

Multiple Ukrainian armored vehicles that attempted to advance on Russian positions near Tetkino through the openings made by the breachers ended up destroyed as well. One of the videos from the area show a heavily uparmored US-supplied M1117 armored car getting hit by a drone carrying two PRG-7 warheads.

Despite initial setbacks, Ukrainian forces managed to reach the westernmost tip of Tetkino, located a mere 100 meters from the border, on Tuesday. An unspecified number of Ukrainian servicemen reportedly infiltrated several residential homes on the outskirts of the village. The forces were subjected to artillery and aerial strikes, footage available online indicates, and reportedly were pushed back across the border by the end of the day.

A similar situation unfolded near Novy Put, where Kiev’s troops also sent in breacher vehicles only to lose them in the open field. Drone footage purportedly taken near the hamlet shows an IMR-2 hitting a landmine when the vehicle attempted to cross an anti-tank ditch and rampart at the border. Immediately after the blast, an uparmored vehicle carrying Ukrainian infantry that followed the breacher was hit by at least one FPV drone, the video suggests.

The ongoing incursion attempt has been marked by the active use of quad bikes by Ukrainian forces, who are using them for rapid infantry deployment instead of relying purely on armored vehicles that follow breachers. A convoy of ten quad bikes was reportedly destroyed en route to Novy Put.

Thermal footage circulating online purports to show the bikes speeding along a road towards the hamlet. The group stopped at some point, and the tightly packed vehicles were subsequently hit by multiple artillery shells, the footage shows.

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Putin’s temporary end to hostilities aims to open peace talks despite recent Ukrainian drone attacks

A 72-hour ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially come into effect, with Russian forces halting offensive operations going into Thursday, despite a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks in the hours before the truce.

The pause in fighting, set to last until midnight on May 10–11, has been described as a humanitarian gesture marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin says the ceasefire also aims to create space for direct peace talks with Ukraine, without preconditions.

”Yes, this is an initiative by the Russian side, by President Putin. It remains in force,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday, stressing that Moscow is committed to honoring the truce despite Ukraine’s record-breaking drone assault ahead of its start.

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Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has refused to back the ceasefire, denouncing it as an “attempt at manipulation” and accusing Russia of using humanitarian overtures to gain a tactical advantage.

Kiev has recently intensified its drone campaign, with high-ranking Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik stating that Ukrainian UAV strikes over the past week have caused a record number of civilian casualties — 15 killed and 142 injured.

Earlier in the week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Zelensky of engaging in “classic terrorist behavior” by threatening civilians in Russia while soliciting additional funding from Western donors.

Peskov condemned the continued attacks, accusing the “Kiev regime” of revealing “its essence and inclination toward terrorist actions.” He noted that Russia’s special services and military are taking all necessary measures to ensure that Victory Day events proceed safely across the country.

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Despite calls from some lawmakers for an “asymmetrical” response to the drone strikes, the Kremlin has reiterated its position: “All instructions have been given, there are no new elements here,” Peskov said when asked about potential retaliation during the ceasefire window.

Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and remains one of the most significant public holidays in Russia.

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Kiev has agreed to a 30-kilometer-wide demilitarized zone along the line of contact, Keith Kellogg has said

Russia is not aware of any Ukrainian offer to establish a demilitarized zone along the current line of contact, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS on Wednesday.

His comment follows US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg saying Kiev was willing to set up such a zone.

“There have been no relevant statements by Kiev on the issue,” Peskov told the news agency.

Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Kellogg stated that Kiev was “willing” to “freeze” the hostilities along the current line of contact and “to set up a demilitarized zone” that would require each side to retreat 15 kilometers from the current front lines.

“So, you’ve got this 30-kilometer, 18-mile-[wide] zone that you can actually observe,” the special envoy said. Ukraine has not made any official statements on the issue.

Kiev has repeatedly demanded an immediate 30-day ceasefire over the past few months but has not mentioned a demilitarized zone in its statements.

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In March, Russia and Ukraine both agreed to a US-brokered 30-day partial ceasefire focused on halting strikes on energy infrastructure. Kiev, however, violated the truce on numerous occasions, according to the Russian military.

Moscow also unilaterally announced a pause during Easter weekend in April. The initiative was only partially successful. Although a certain lull in the hostilities was observed, Kiev violated the truce more than 3,900 times, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s estimates.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the nation’s forces would suspend all offensive operations from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11 as part of another unilaterally announced truce to mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Moscow also expressed its hope at the time that the ceasefire could contribute to the “start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the move as “manipulation” while Kiev ramped up its drone attacks on Russian territory, which killed 15 and injured more than 140 people. The Kremlin has said that an increase in strikes will not affect the ceasefire plans.

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The Venezuelan president has arrived in Russia to participate in the May 9 Victory Day celebrations

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro have signed a strategic partnership agreement to expand cooperation across key sectors, the Kremlin has announced.

The deal was sealed on Wednesday in Moscow after talks between the two leaders. Maduro had arrived in the Russian capital to attend the May 9 Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany.

As part of the agreement, Moscow and Caracas pledged to oppose unilateral sanctions, violations of the UN Charter, and what they called manifestations of neo-colonialism.

The document published on the Kremlin’s website also outlines plans for cooperation on global and regional security, counterterrorism, counter-extremism, and efforts to combat the falsification of history and the glorification of Nazism.

The pact sets a long-term course for deeper ties in areas including the economy, energy, investment, mineral extraction, transport, telecommunications, healthcare, and culture.

Maduro noted that this year also marks 80 years of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Caracas. He expressed his country’s “deep respect” for Russia as it commemorates the anniversary of the victory in the Second World War, praising the “extraordinary effort” made by the Soviet people to end a “horrific and unlawful war brought about by fascism.”

READ MORE: WATCH Venezuela raise world’s largest Victory Banner to honor USSR’s defeat of Nazi Germany

The Venezuelan leader, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation including cabinet ministers and senior military officers, said they are “honored to be able to share this significant date” with Moscow.

Foreign leaders and envoys from 29 countries will attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9 in Moscow, according to presidential aide Yury Ushakov. This year’s landmark event will feature the traditional military parade on Red Square.

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The large-scale aerial attack also included HIMARS rockets and Neptune guided missiles

Russian anti-aircraft defenses have repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack, downing two Western-supplied HIMARS rockets and over 500 drones, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday. Five long-range Neptune guided missiles and six JDAM precision-guided aerial bombs were also destroyed.

Aerial assaults have increased in the lead-up to a ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled to take effect from midnight on May 7–8 through midnight on May 10–11.

Intended as a humanitarian gesture to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, the three-day pause also opens the door to potential “direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions,” Moscow said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday that Russia still plans to offer the 3-day ceasefire.

By ramping up drone strikes on Russia, “the Kiev regime continues to demonstrate its essence, its inclination to terrorist actions,” Peskov said.

READ MORE: Record civilian casualties from Ukrainian strikes last week – Moscow

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has declined to support the proposed ceasefire, calling it a Russian “attempt at manipulation.” According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s war crimes investigator Rodion Miroshnik, the past week saw a record number of civilian casualties from drone attacks, with 15 people killed and 142 others injured.

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Internet access on mobile devices has been limited as security is being ramped up due to Ukrainian threats

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has urged Moscow residents to be patient with security restrictions this week during Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Earlier, Ukraine had threatened foreign dignitaries visiting the Russian capital.

Muscovites have been reporting disruptions in mobile internet access since Tuesday, with providers attributing the issues to circumstances beyond their control.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Peskov acknowledged that the government had implemented restrictions “for understandable reasons” and encouraged residents to bear with the inconvenience.

“We have to take into account the dangerous neighbor we are dealing with, so to speak,” he stated, referring to Ukraine.

Foreign leaders and envoys from 29 countries are set to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, which will culminate with a traditional military parade on Red Square.

President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine for three days during the celebrations. However, Kiev has refused to reciprocate, demanding an unconditional 30-day truce instead.

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Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has warned that his government cannot guarantee the safety of foreign leaders visiting Moscow. His chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, has posted a picture of his boss gazing at a burning Red Square with a line from a famous Soviet World War II-era song: “We have done everything we could to bring this day closer.”

At the same time, Ukrainian forces have intensified long-range drone strikes against Russia, including the capital. Previously, Kiev’s special services have allegedly used webcams to time detonations in various assassination plots.

“As Muscovites, we all certainly want Victory Day to be marked properly, and for all events to go as planned,” Peskov said. He added that the restrictions will likely remain in effect for the duration of the foreign guests’ stay in Russia.

Earlier in the week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Zelensky of engaging in “classic terrorist behavior” by threatening civilians in Russia while soliciting additional funding from Western donors.

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Moscow airports have faced severe disruptions from Ukrainian drone strikes, stranding thousands of passengers

Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia sparked widespread travel chaos late Tuesday and early Wednesday, forcing multiple Russian airlines to cancel and reroute dozens of flights. Repeated airport closures in Moscow and multiple regions threw operations into disarray and left thousands of passengers stuck on parked flights or stranded in airports without accommodation.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defense systems shot down at least eight drones on Tuesday evening and another nine early Wednesday morning.

The wave of attacks marked the third consecutive day of drone assaults on the capital, just days ahead of the city’s May 9 Victory Day parade.

Aviation authorities grounded flights at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports, as well as in the cities of Nizhny Novgorod, Kirov, Yaroslavl, Kazan.

Russia’s major carriers including Aeroflot, Pobeda, and S7 warned passengers to brace for disruptions on Tuesday and Wednesday. S7, pledged to provide full refunds for affected passengers or rebook them on alternative flights.

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“The restrictions were imposed to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights,” Artyom Korenyako, a spokesperson for Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, told reporters.

Residents in the Ryazan, Tula, Orel, and Moscow regions reported seeing waves of drones flying toward the Russian capital.

The closures come as Russia expects 29 foreign leaders to attend the Victory Day military parade in Moscow later this week.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will arrive for a full state visit and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among the expected attendees, according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be the only European leaders present at the parade.

READ MORE: Putin’s 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire proposal still on the table – Kremlin

The head of Kiev’s Center for Countering Disinformation Andrey Kovalenko has said on his Telegram channel that Ukraine’s overnight attacks targeted the Kubinka airbase in Moscow region, as well as the Shaykovka airfield in Kaluga region.

The attacks come despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a unilateral ceasefire from midnight May 7 to midnight May 11. Framed as a humanitarian gesture to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, the Kremlin said the three-day pause was also intended to open the door to potential “direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday that despite the latest attack, the ceasefire declared by the Russian president remains in effect.

“This is an initiative by the Russian side, by President Putin. It remains in force,” he told reporters.

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The European Commission chief also urged the bloc’s members to further support Kiev’s military industry

Ukraine EU accession talks should be launched in 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed on Wednesday. She argued that such a step would enhance Kiev’s negotiating position against Moscow while also opening the door for more investments in the country’s military industry.

Kiev has repeatedly expressed its desire to join the EU. However, Ukraine’s “immediate” accession has been consistently opposed by several member states. Hungary has voiced concerns over corruption, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and economic competition, particularly in agriculture.

Other EU nations, including Slovakia, France, and Germany, have also expressed reservations, emphasizing that Kiev must meet existing reform benchmarks before talks proceed.

Speaking at a Europe Day event on May 7, von der Leyen said that the EU’s current task is to “help Ukraine stand strong, defy Putin’s intimidations.”

“Today, I would like to focus on how we can do so, and on three priorities for our action. First, support Ukraine’s defense. Second, complete the phase-out of Russian fossil fuels. And third, accelerate Ukraine’s accession path to our Union.”

She added that Brussels is “working hard with Ukraine to open the first cluster of accession talks, and to open all clusters in 2025.”

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While Russia has consistently rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, its position on EU accession has been more restrained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that the country has a “sovereign right” to join the bloc, provided that it remains a matter of economic integration and not military alignment.

At the same time, Russian officials have increasingly warned that the EU is losing its purely civilian character. Peskov has accused the bloc of actively working to prolong the Ukraine conflict by repeatedly expressing its intention to keep supporting Kiev in its desire to “continue the war.”

He has also criticized Brussels for undermining peace efforts by consistently portraying Russia as the bloc’s primary adversary.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had previously also stated that the EU was “becoming militarized at a record pace,” and claimed there was now “very little difference” between the EU and NATO.

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The strike reportedly utilized a specialized FPV aircraft shielded from electronic countermeasures

Russian forces have destroyed a valuable Ukrainian HIMARS multiple launch rocket system in a strike using a first-person view (FPV) drone, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has reported. The strike was credited to the Rubicon drone team and took place in the Donetsk People’s Republic, according to a statement on Tuesday.

Footage released by the Russian military showed the US-designed HIMARS launcher firing projectiles and later moving along a road with an escort vehicle. Close-up shots indicated that the weapons system was hit by a drone strike, with the remainder of the clip showing the aftermath of the attack.

HIMARS systems, valued at approximately $20 million each, are among Ukraine’s most treasured military assets. They are capable of striking targets up to 90km away and can quickly relocate to evade counterattacks. While Moscow has previously reported the destruction of HIMARS units, the cases typically involved strikes with fast-moving ballistic missiles or successful identification of camouflaged stationary launchers.

FPV drones, known for being inexpensive but limited in range, generally struggle against effective electronic countermeasures. A report by Forbes magazine indicated that the recent strike used a drone operated via a fiber-optic cable, which offers a secure alternative to conventional radio control susceptible to interference.

The approach is similar to technologies employed in wire-guided missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports deploying such drones in the Ukraine conflict.

READ MORE: Kiev reports loss of fighter jet during Russian drone attack (VIDEO)

Ukraine faces challenges in replacing destroyed Western weaponry, particularly from the US, as President Donald Trump announced his intention to minimize American involvement in the conflict. The US is currently advocating for a negotiated resolution between Kiev and Moscow, while many European NATO allies are committed to maintaining support – including the potential deployment of their own troops to Ukraine, a proposal that Russia deems unacceptable.

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The truce proposed by Russian president Vladimir Putin “remains in force,” his spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

The intensification of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory will not affect Moscow’s plans to introduce a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces would suspend all offensive operations from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. According to Moscow, the truce is a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and could serve as a catalyst for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has declined to support the ceasefire, dismissing it as a Russian ploy and an “attempt at manipulation.” Instead, Kiev has ramped up its drone strikes on Russian territory, with high-ranking Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik saying on Tuesday that the past week saw a record number of civilian casualties from such attacks, with 15 people being killed and 142 others injured.

Peskov assured journalists on Tuesday that Russia remains committed to the Victory Day truce despite the actions of Ukraine.

“Yes, this is an initiative by the Russian side, by President Putin. It remains in force,” he said.

By ordering more UAVs attacks on Moscow and other Russian regions, “the Kiev regime continues to demonstrate its essence, its inclination to terrorist actions,” the spokesman argued.

READ MORE: Kremlin aide reveals which world leaders to attend Victory Day parade

“Our special services, our military are taking all measures to ensure that Victory Day celebrations take place in a calm, stable and peaceful atmosphere,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Russian MP Andrey Kolesnik warned that Moscow could come up with an “asymmetrical” response to the Ukrainian drone attacks ahead of May 9. According to the lawmaker, the strikes do not have any military purpose. “We will hit them hard,” Kolesnik told News.ru website.

When asked about possible Russian retaliation, Peskov stressed that “there is nothing to comment on in this case. Our position on the ceasefire is well known. All instructions have been given, there are no new elements here.”

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Moscow has called for de-escalation after New Delhi attacked alleged terrorist facilities across the border

Russia has expressed its deep concerns over the rising violence between India and Pakistan, and is urging both nations to take measures to prevent further escalation.

Tensions surged following last month’s terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley in India’s Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory that left 26 civilians dead. On Tuesday, the Indian military launched “Operation Sindoor” and conducted strikes in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir, prompting Islamabad to threaten retaliation against what it deemed a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

“Russia decisively condemns all acts of terrorism, objects to any terrorist activities and emphasizes the need for the international community to unite to effectively fight against this evil,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday. Moscow called for restraint and expressed hope that India and Pakistan would settle their disputes “through peaceful political and diplomatic means.”

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reached out to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey his personal condolences regarding the April 22 attack and reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted his counterparts in India and Pakistan last week, offering Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Muhammad Ishaq Dar Moscow’s assistance in reducing tensions.

New Delhi said on Wednesday that it had hit at least nine “terrorist camps,” claiming that Pakistan’s armed forces and civilians were not its targets and describing its action as “measured and non-escalatory.”

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said a key target on Tuesday was the Masjid wa Markaz Taiba mosque complex in Muridke, near Lahore in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which is considered the ideological and operational center of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group.
The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the Kashmir attack, though later reports indicated that the group has distanced itself from it.

Pakistan’s military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Indian missile strikes have killed eight civilians and injured 38 others. The country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated his government “has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India.”

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Foreign dignitaries are arriving in Moscow ahead of the May 9 celebrations, Yury Ushakov has said

Foreign leaders and envoys from 29 countries will attend Russia’s Victory Day parade later this week in Moscow, presidential aide Yury Ushakov has announced. The May 9 event commemorates 80 years since the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

The international guests are also expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ushakov added. This year’s landmark celebrations will include a traditional military parade on Red Square.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico will be among the leaders present, Ushakov confirmed to journalists on Tuesday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be among the visitors due to mounting tensions with Pakistan. However, New Delhi will still be represented by a high-level delegation.

Vucic is expected to attend the celebrations despite a recent health scare, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Sinisa Mali said on Monday.

Officials in Brussels previously warned Vucic that his presence in Moscow would be held against Belgrade’s EU aspirations.

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Fico has also confirmed his attendance.

The celebration “is truly becoming a major international event serving as an indicator of Russia’s growing authority in the world,” Ushakov stated.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declined an invitation to attend.

The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was also invited. However, according to Ushakov, she has not confirmed whether she will attend.

The Victory Day parade will feature military units from 13 countries, including China, Egypt, and Vietnam, among others, the aide said.

Military veterans from several countries, including Armenia, Israel, Mongolia, and the US, are also expected to attend the parade.

READ MORE: Putin’s 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire proposal still on the table – Kremlin

Last week, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky urged foreign leaders to avoid visiting Moscow, citing potential security risks. Russian officials accused Zelensky of endangering the safety of civilians attending the May 9 events. Fico dismissed the threats as “ridiculous.”

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Fifteen people lost their lives during the period, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s war crimes investigator

Ukrainian forces have killed 15 civilians and injured 142 over the past week, including eight minors, according to Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large tasked with documenting Kiev’s alleged war crimes.

Writing on his Telegram channel on Tuesday, Miroshnik noted that the past seven days had been the deadliest for civilians since the beginning of the year. He stressed that Ukraine’s forces had launched at least 1,974 munitions at civilian targets in Russian territory over the past week.

The strikes have affected multiple regions, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, as well as Belgorod, Bryansk, and Krasnodar.

Among the deadliest incidents, Miroshnik highlighted a drone attack on a city market in Alyoshki, Kherson Region, where eight civilians were killed and 19 others wounded. In Gorlovka, DPR, a HIMARS strike reportedly killed one woman and injured 16 others, including a four-month-old baby. In Staromikhaylovka, DPR, one person was killed and nine others wounded by the detonation of a cluster submunition.

Other reported incidents include a drone strike on a civilian car in Belgorod Region that killed two people and wounded three, and drone attacks on emergency services in Gorlovka, where eight rescue workers were injured. Additionally, four firefighters were wounded in Kakhovka, Kherson Region.

Miroshnik reported that elderly civilians were also among the casualties, including a 99-year-old woman killed in the LPR and an 89-year-old man killed in Bryansk. A 12-year-old boy was seriously injured by a detonating munition in the Kherson village of Maslovka, and a 17-year-old boy was hurt in a drone attack on a school bus in the Zaporozhye Region.

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Throughout the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev’s forces of deliberately targeting civilians with NATO-supplied artillery systems, drones, and cluster munitions.

Last week, Miroshnik reported that despite renewed diplomacy efforts between Moscow and Washington, Kiev has only continued to intensify attacks on civilians, apparently attempting to derail peace talks through military provocations and terrorizing the Russian population.

According to Miroshnik, one captured Ukrainian soldier in Russia’s Kursk Region even confessed that he was given direct orders to “shoot all civilians encountered.” The diplomat suggested that Kiev has been “relaying to its units guarantees of impunity for their crimes secretly offered by Western sponsors.”

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Each side had 205 of its respective troops returned in the exchange, according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry

Moscow and Kiev have conducted an exchange of prisoners of war, each repatriating 205 combatants, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced.

The Tuesday swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the statement said. The Russian soldiers have been transported to the territory of Belarus, Moscow’s ally, where they are receiving medical treatment, the ministry added. They will be soon be returned home for rehabilitation.

Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners on a regular basis, with neutral nations helping them to make necessary arrangements. The last exchange was reported in mid-April, when each party released 246 people.

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The latest round comes days ahead of a unilateral Russian three-day ceasefire coinciding with the commemoration of the victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Kiev has refused to reciprocate, demanding an unconditional truce lasting at least 30 days.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has threatened foreign dignitaries, who will gather in Moscow for a celebratory military parade in the Red Square, saying his government would not extend security guarantees to them.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Zelensky’s remarks have not affected Russian plans, since the military can provide an “adequate response” to any Ukrainian provocations.

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Russian forces will, however, give an “adequate response” to any attacks by Ukraine, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire proposal is still valid and Moscow’s forces have been given orders to halt military activity, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

At the same time, he warned that if Ukraine chooses not to honor the truce and attempts to strike Russian military positions, an “adequate response will be given immediately.”

Putin announced the unilateral ceasefire last week, stating that Russian troops would suspend all offensive operations from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. According to the Kremlin, the three-day pause has been proposed as a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and could serve as a chance for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

Peskov has stated that the truce is also intended to test if Ukraine really wants to settle the conflict and to offer it a chance to demonstrate its commitment to deescalation.

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Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, however, has rejected the offer, dismissing it as a Russian ploy and an “attempt at manipulation.” In a statement following Putin’s announcement, he instead called for an immediate unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has claimed is an attempt to buy time for retreating Ukrainian forces.

Zelensky has also claimed that Putin’s ceasefire proposal is intended to ensure calm during Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9, and suggested that Kiev could not guarantee the safety of foreign leaders planning to attend the celebrations. Ukrainian MP Yury Pavlenko has also proposed attacking Moscow’s Red Square during the parade.

Moscow has condemned Zelensky’s remarks. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova interpreted them as a “direct threat” and proof of Kiev’s terrorist nature.

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Ukrainian “neo-Nazis” joined London’s VE Day march to serve its geopolitical agenda, Maria Zakharova claims

British foreign policy is focused on resource acquisition at any cost, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Zakharova criticized what she called British egoism “elevated to national ideology” in an interview on Monday. She was commenting on the invitation extended to Ukrainian troops to participate in the Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) parade in London. She claimed the gesture indicated Kiev’s willingness to fight for British interests “to the last Ukrainian.”

“Britain constantly needs resources. Britain constantly needs to rob, to steal, and preferably to kill, leaving no witnesses,” Zakharova stated. “That is why those neo-Nazis marched in London streets.”

She referenced historical instances of British colonialism and actions taken against Russia, including alliances with the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century, military interventions during the Russian Civil War, and current support for Ukraine.

Zakharova condemned the British provocation in the Black Sea in June 2021, when the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender deliberately entered Russian waters off Crimea to observe Moscow’s reaction. She also alleged recent British support for Ukrainian terrorist attacks on Russian territory.

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”Britain is choosing the wrong tactic century after century,” Zakharova said. “While they ponder how to use new technologies, schemes, and provocations to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, it is moving forward. Russia is crushing all their plans.”

The Ukrainian soldiers who participated in the VE Day procession on Monday are part of a contingent currently being trained by the British military to combat Russia. Defense Secretary John Healey described their presence as “fitting,” claiming that the Ukrainian army is “currently fighting on the front line of freedom.”

Zakharova emphasized that the Ukrainian government is actively eradicating links to the country’s Soviet past, while promoting as national heroes Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis.

Given Ukrainian participation, she asserted that the May 8 march would resemble demonstrations by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists. Unlike in the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, the modern British public is indoctrinated by its government and is unlikely to object, she claimed.

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At least 19 hostile UAVs were downed en route to the Russian capital, according to Sergey Sobyanin

Moscow has repelled a multi-wave Ukrainian drone attack, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported in a series of Telegram posts early Tuesday morning. At least one of the drones hit a residential building in the south of the city, according to photos from the scene.

The first five drones were intercepted by 1:16am, Sobyanin said. Another was downed about 30 minutes later, followed by three more shortly before 2am, all en route to the capital.

“According to preliminary information, there are no serious injuries or casualties,” the mayor stated, adding that emergency services are working at the crash sites and “all necessary measures are being taken.”

At 2:17am, Sobyanin reported that the air defense “destroyed ten more drones flying to Moscow from different directions,” raising the total to at least 19 intercepted UAVs.

One of the UAVs fell near Kashirskoe Highway in the south of the city, according to Sobyanin.

While the official shared few details, photos published by TASS news agency indicated that the drone hit the top floor of a residential high-rise, shattering several windows and damaging the storefront of a flower shop.

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Moscow’s Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky international airports temporarily suspended operations in response to the attack.

The mayor reported later on Tuesday that Russian air defense systems had taken down two additional Ukrainian drones which were heading towards Moscow. He added that specialists are now working at the crash site of the UAVs.

This week, Russia will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. President Vladimir Putin had ordered a three-day unilateral ceasefire to coincide with the commemorations, but Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky refused to reciprocate, saying Kiev would accept nothing short of an unconditional 30-day truce.

Zelensky and other officials in Kiev have issued veiled threats that they intend to target the military parade being held in Moscow on May 9, which will be attended by foreign dignitaries. Russia has denounced the rhetoric as evidence of Ukraine using terrorist tactics.

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Europeans are “rightly” concerned by the trend and should fight against any manifestations of the ideology, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Neo-Nazism is on the rise in Europe and extensive efforts are needed to combat this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.

Peskov was asked to comment on a recent Politico report claiming that the leaders of Poland, France, Germany, and the UK had declined to attend Vladimir Zelensky’s Victory Day celebrations in Kiev. Ukraine has positioned the event as an alternative to the parade set to be held in Moscow on May 9 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

Asked if this refusal represented a shift in modern Europe’s attitudes toward neo-Nazism, Peskov said it is unlikely to become “a turning point” and claimed that “manifestations of neo-Nazism in Europe are quite significant.”

“The Europeans themselves understand this and many in Europe are rightly afraid of this,” Peskov added. He insisted that the fight against fascism should not be a “one-time event” but a constant and continuous effort at all levels of society.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also recently raised concerns over the rise of neo-Nazism in Europe. During a public lecture in Moscow last week, he insisted that “Nazism needs to be rooted out not only in Ukraine but in all of Europe.”

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Peskov’s comments come after Politico reported that Zelensky had asked EU officials to visit the event in the Ukrainian capital as a show of “diplomatic force” against Russia. Meanwhile, the annual military parade on Red Square in Moscow is set to be attended by leaders from Brazil, Venezuela, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Slovakia, and elsewhere.

Zelensky recently appeared to threaten any foreign officials who opt to visit the 80th anniversary celebrations in Moscow, stating that Kiev cannot guarantee their safety during the event.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Zelensky of openly threatening to carry out a terrorist attack on the Victory Day parade, citing it as proof that Kiev is not interested in peace.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire in honor of the Victory Day celebrations. Zelensky has declined the proposal, insisting instead on a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

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Several clips capture FAB-3000s in action, which are some of the most powerful munitions in the series

Multiple new videos emerged online over the weekend, highlighting the continuing active use of free-fall aerial bombs fitted with winged upgrade kits. Russian aircraft have been deploying glide bombs to destroy Ukrainian forces’ positions, as well as military installations in the rear beyond the frontline.

The Russian military has been actively using FAB bombs fitted with Universal Correction and Guidance Modules (UMPK) winged upgrade kits since early 2023. The winged module turns old free-fall bombs into guided high-precision munitions and drastically expands their range, allowing war planes to deploy them outside the range of anti-aircraft defenses.

The UMPKs were initially used with smaller high-explosive bombs such as FAB-250 or FAB-500, then graduating to larger munitions, such as FAB-1500 and FAB-3000 later in the conflict. The upgrade kits have also been used with thermobaric ODAB-1500 and cluster RBK-500 bombs.

In one of the new videos, what is apparently a massive FAB-3000 bomb is seen leveling a temporary deployment point for Ukrainian troops in the town of Kupyansk in Kharkov Region. The weapon is one of the most powerful in the series, weighing more than three tons.

More footage, also from Kupyansk, purports to show a winged FAB-3000 bomb striking a building used as a command post by the Ukrainian military.

Another drone video, filmed in the village of Borovaya, Kharkov Region, apparently shows a smaller-caliber winged bomb in action, likely a FAB-1500. The strike reportedly destroyed a temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a neo-Nazi unit formed from the remnants of the notorious Azov regiment.

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Ivan Zaborsky set a new world record as he claimed victory in one of Europe’s most prestigious endurance races

Russian ultramarathon runner Ivan Zaborsky has won the ‘6 Days of France’ endurance race, setting a new world record. The 37-year-old was the only participant to cover more than 1,000 kilometers in the notoriously gruelling event.

The race took place between April 28 and May 4 in the southern French town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, where 146 amateur runners from 21 countries ran almost continuously along a looped course of just over one kilometer. Held each year, the six-day ultramarathon challenges participants to cover as much distance as possible within 144 hours.

Zaborsky completed 926 laps, covering 1,047.5 kilometers (650.8 miles) and breaking the previous record of 1,045 kilometers. With his performance, Zaborsky also set a new world record for the furthest distance run during the event. The runner-up, American Megan Eckert, covered 708.1 kilometers. Zaborsky crossed the finish line carrying the Russian flag.

Russia was banned from numerous international sports events following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. In some cases, athletes from Russia have been allowed to participate as individuals or under a neutral flag. Moscow has criticized the restrictions, accusing international federations of “politicizing” sports.

“Through challenges we become stronger,” Zaborsky told reporters upon finishing the race. When asked how it feels to be the first Russian to win the ultramarathon, he replied: “It’s important, it’s an honor, and the world record now belongs to Russia.”

Another Russian athlete, Irina Masanova, achieved the fifth-best result overall and placed second among female competitors, covering 832.5 kilometers.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryev described Zaborsky’s victory as a significant achievement for national sport, praising his performance as a powerful display of willpower, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Zaborsky’s victory adds to his list of achievements in ultramarathon running. In November 2024, he completed the 8th Authentic Phidippides Run in Greece, covering 490 kilometers from Athens to Sparta and back in 52 hours and 52 minutes.

The 6 Days of France race is widely regarded as one of Europe’s premier endurance events. First held in 2006 in the coastal town of Antibes, the ultramarathon has since grown into a global gathering of elite athletes.

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A close-quarters firefight in Dagestan left two police officers injured

A group of assailants has attacked a police patrol car in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s Dagestan Republic, killing at least three people, local authorities said on Monday.

Two suspects were involved in the attack, with both of them “neutralized” by the police, the regional Interior Ministry said. While preliminary information indicated two other people were involved and fled the scene in a stolen police vehicle, that report has proven to be untrue, the ministry said. Both suspects were killed during the attack, TASS reported, citing the ministry.

While the local authorities initially said three officers were killed, they revised the figure later in the day, stating two officers had been killed and two others wounded.

Footage circulating online shows a police SUV with a uniformed officer lying motionless on the ground by the vehicle. A man armed with a large knife is seen inspecting the car, while another person in civilian clothing, presumably one of the attackers, is seen lying on the ground and taking aim with a shortened AK-pattern rifle. A wounded police officer can be seen trying to take cover in the background.

The knife-wielding attacker appeared to try to finish off the wounded officer, with the two ending up in melee, another video suggests. The officer overpowered his assailant, evidently killing him with his own weapon. Extremely graphic imagery circulating online shows the attacker in a pool of blood, with multiple gaping knife wounds visible.

At least seven people have been hospitalized following the incident, including at least two civilians, the local health ministry has said. It also said at least two suspects were among the wounded receiving treatment, with another three apparently in police custody. One victim has succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, according to the ministry.

The health authority revised the tally later in the day, stating that five people, including three civilians, were wounded in the attack. Three people have been confirmed dead.

The Russian Investigative Committee said it has launched a criminal investigation. The suspects face charges of attempted murder of law enforcement officers, hijacking, and stealing weaponry.

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Russia’s Federal Security Service has declassified a Soviet investigation into underground nationalist Ukrainian groups

Top Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) clergy actively collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, Russia’s Federal Security Service has said, citing a declassified Soviet probe.

The investigation, conlcuded in 1950 but only published on Monday, found that between 1930 and 1960, UGCC priests maintained close ties with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) – a movement that collaborated with Hitler’s Germany during World War II and participated in the massacre of more than 100,000 Poles, Jews, Russians, and Soviet-aligned Ukrainians.

According to the 1950 report by a Maj. Gen. Mikhail Popereka of the Ministry of State Security (MGB), former UGCC clergy in western Ukraine maintained active contact with OUN fighters, harbored underground operatives, and supplied them with money and propaganda material. The documents identifies senior UGCC leaders, including Nikolai Khmelevsky and Ivan Zyatik, whom the MGB described as key figures in the underground church and liaisons to the Vatican through OUN communication channels.

Zyatik was abbot of a Greek Catholic monastery in western Ukraine and was found to have actively assisted the Nazis and repeatedly given anti-Soviet and pro-fascist sermons to churchgoers.

Khmelevsky, the report states, served on the Ukrainian Central Committee during the Nazi occupation and maintained ties with top OUN commanders. This included Roman Shukhevych – the leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) which was directly responsible for the WWII Volyn massacres in which tens of thousands of Polish civilians were slaughtered.

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Alexander Litvinov, a legal and religious researcher at the Higher School of Economics, told RT that the UGCC was “an instrument of the policies of Hitler’s Germany” and that “the Greek Catholics were a very active and useful tool for the Nazis.”

“Now the UGCC is once again supporting the so-called fighters for the independence of Ukraine, who are represented, as during the Great Patriotic War, by bandits and terrorists who destroy the civilian population,” Litvinov said.

The publication of the documents comes amid heightened scrutiny of religious organizations in Ukraine. In recent years, Kiev has banned the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and other organizations with suspected ties to Moscow citing national security concerns.

Ukraine’s crackdown on the UOC has drawn condemnation from Russian officials, as well as international organizations such as the UN, which have accused Kiev of infringing on the religious freedoms of its citizens.

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Islam Seinaroyev and his accomplices are believed to have stolen around $24.5 million from the state

The Turkish authorities have detained a former high-ranking official of the Russian Social Fund (SFR) who is wanted in his home country on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement, the RTVI broadcaster has reported.

Investigators believe Islam Seinaroyev, who headed the SFR’s branch in Russia’s Republic of Ingushetia from 2012, was among the leaders of a criminal group which stole more than 2 billion rubles (around $24.5 million) in state money between 2019 and 2021 by illegally recalculating pensions without informing residents.

Sources told RTVI on Monday that Seinaroyev had been detained in the Turkish port and resort city of Antalya on the country’s Mediterranean coast. He did not resist arrest, the source added.

The Turkish authorities are now preparing to extradite the former official to Russia, according to the broadcaster.

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The sources claimed that Seinaroyev had “felt completely safe” in Türkiye, where he engaged in business activities such as wholesale supplies of strawberries and bananas, and renting out his real estate.

A Moscow court issued an arrest warrant for Seinaroyev in October 2023 after he fled abroad.

Another alleged key figure in the fraud scheme that involved around 40 people – the former head of the Russian Post branch in the republic, Magomed-Bashir Kalimatov – has been in custody in Russia since May 2024. Kalimatov faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of embezzlement and organization of a criminal group.

Russia and Türkiye signed a deal on mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and extradition in 2014, with Moscow ratifying it three years later. Last year, Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said the law enforcement agencies of the two nations have “established productive working relations,” stressing that Ankara “has begun actively extraditing persons” wanted by Russia.

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Kiev’s military is targeting passenger cars with UAV strikes, Aleksandr Khinstein has said

Ukrainian drone attacks have resulted in three civilian deaths in Russia's Kursk Region, according to Acting Governor Aleksandr Khinstein.

In a social media post on Monday, he denounced the “latest crimes against civilians committed by the Ukrainian military.”

Two women died when a car carrying five dairy farm employees was struck by a Ukrainian first-person view drone, while two others sustained serious injuries, Khinstein said. The regional head added that in a separate incident, a man in his early 50s was killed by an explosive device dropped from a UAV onto the vehicle he was driving.

Khinstein urged Kursk Region residents to be on guard for further Ukrainian attacks and to prioritize their safety.

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Last year, Kiev targeted Kursk Region with a massive incursion, capturing some border territories that Ukrainian officials claimed they would use for leverage during eventual peace talks. The Russian military reported the full liberation of the territory in late April, but Kiev stated that its cross-border operations continue.

This week, Russia will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. President Vladimir Putin had ordered a three-day unilateral ceasefire to coincide with the commemorations, but Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky refused to reciprocate, saying Kiev would accept nothing short of an unconditional 30-day truce.

He and other Ukrainian officials have issued veiled threats to target the military parade being held in Moscow on May 9, which will be attended by foreign dignitaries. Russia has denounced the rhetoric as evidence of Ukraine using terrorist tactics.

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Ralph Goff says Washington feared nuclear retaliation and deliberately prolonged the conflict

The United States deliberately restricted military aid to Kiev in order to let the country “bleed” rather than “win,” a former senior CIA official has claimed, describing the strategy pursued by then-US President Joe Biden during the early stages of the conflict.

Ukraine has repeatedly requested advanced American weapons systems that were initially withheld or delayed by Washington.

In an interview with The Times published on Friday, Ralph Goff – former head of the CIA’s operations in Europe and Eurasia – said Biden was reluctant to send the necessary equipment due to fears that Russia “will go nuclear.” He argued that the decision to hold back key weapons turned the conflict into a prolonged and devastating war.

“Had we equipped the Ukrainians at that time with proper weaponry, they might have been able to drive the Russians all the way out of the country,” he said. “It didn’t happen. It set the stage for this longer, protracted, drawn out, meat grinder war that we are witnessing today.”

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The former CIA officer, a vocal supporter of Kiev, lamented that Western governments had “allowed themselves to be bamboozled by Vladimir Putin and his nuclear-saber rattling.”

“So they gave the Ukrainians this weaponry, but they never gave them enough to win. They only gave them enough to bleed,” he added.

He also relayed a warning from a Ukrainian official who predicted that without a ceasefire, the front line would become an “incredibly lethal environment” by late summer. “It will be a 20–50km death zone,” Goff said, quoting the official, “where you can’t move because there are so many drones in the air and robots on the ground and sensors and mines.”

The Biden administration provided more than $174 billion in aid to Kiev following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, including dozens of military packages.

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The approach shifted under Donald Trump, who returned to office in January. His administration has pushed for direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev and reportedly proposed a peace plan that includes the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and a freeze along the existing front lines.

Under the proposal, Moscow would retain control over parts of the four former Ukrainian regions that have voted to join Russia.

Russia has said it is ready for talks “without preconditions” and announced a 72-hour ceasefire for the Victory Day holiday. The proposal, however, has been rejected by Vladimir Zelensky.

Moscow has stressed that any agreement to end hostilities must reflect territorial realities and address the underlying causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and the continued delivery of Western weapons.

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Moscow has accused Kiev of trying to spread fear ahead of the WWII victory celebrations on Red Square

Ukraine is exploiting peace negotiations in order to extract funds from its Western backers and promote extremism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

She made the remarks after Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andrey Yermak reposted a stylized image of Vladimir Zelensky looking at the iconic Kremlin wall engulfed in flames.

“Nicely drawn,” Yermak wrote under the image, which was captioned with a line from a famous Soviet World War II-era song: “We have done everything we could to bring this day closer.”

“Talks of a truce from the Kiev regime are a mockery of the efforts made by those who truly seek peace. Their real goal is to exploit the West, spread fear, kill, promote neo-Nazi ideology, and operate in a legal vacuum – classic terrorist behavior,” Zakharova told Russian broadcaster TVC on Sunday. She also accused Ukraine of “stealing billions” in foreign aid.

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Ukraine has rejected Russia’s proposal for a 72-hour truce next week, as Moscow prepares to hold a military parade on Red Square on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Germany in the Second World War. Foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the celebrations.

Zelensky urged world leaders not to travel to Moscow, saying that Ukraine “cannot guarantee their safety.” He claimed that Russia could stage “arsons, explosions, and other steps” to blame Kiev.

The Russian Foreign Ministry argued that Zelensky’s statements amounted to terrorist threats. Kiev has repeatedly struck apartment buildings in Moscow with drones, while Ukrainian agents have used explosives to carry out several assassinations in the capital.

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The explosion damaged the apartment block and sparked a major fire, with over a dozen residents reported injured

A major fire has broken out in southwest Moscow following an explosion at a residential building. At least 15 residents have reportedly been injured in the incident, with a number of people feared trapped inside the burning building.

The explosion appears to have occurred on the top floor of the nine-story building, footage circulating online suggests. The initial blast caused the roof to partially collapse and also blew off several sections of the external wall.

Two people have died as a result of the incident, TASS has reported, citing emergency services.

Extremely graphic footage circulating online purports to show two motionless bodies hanging out of the windows of apartments on fire. Media reports suggested the deceased suffocated on smoke.

A preliminary assessment indicated that the explosion and fire were caused by natural gas, multiple media reports have suggested. Various outlets, however, provided conflicting accounts on the matter, with some suggesting gas canisters were responsible for the explosion, while others claimed a pipeline gas leak was to blame.

The incident triggered a major emergency response, with over 60 firefighters and about 20 units of equipment, including mobile ladders and cranes, deployed to the scene. Rescuers evacuated residents of the damaged section of the building, as well as from apartments in the adjacent stairwells.

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The West has been long seeking to “finish off” Russia and partition it into several smaller countries, Vladimir Putin has said

Russia is standing alone against the West, which is waging an “existential war” against the country, President Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin made the remarks in a documentary titled ‘Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 years,’ filmed by Rossiya-1 broadcaster and released on Sunday. The film marks the 25-year anniversary of Putin becoming the country’s president for the first time. He inaugurated on May 7, 2000.

The documentary features conversations between Putin and journalist Pavel Zarubin on various matters, including the hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, as well as a broader conflict between Moscow and the West.

“Russia is essentially standing alone against the collective West. This required a serious attitude to the possible development of the situation in this particular sense,” Putin stated.

It has been clear from the early 2000s that the West has been acting “insidiously” against Russia, speaking about one thing and doing the opposite, Putin noted. The West’s failure to hear Russia’s repeated warnings, as well as its refusal to fully recognize the country’s sovereignty and respect its national interests, has ultimately led to the ongoing crisis, the president explained.

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“This ‘civilized world’ decided that Russia had weakened, historical Russia called the Soviet Union had collapsed, and the remaining parts needed to be finished off. The largest of them was the Russian Federation, and it also needed to be partitioned into 4-5 pieces. I was responsible for the future of the country. Of course, I began working to ensure that this never happened,” he said.

Moscow has repeatedly described the hostilities in Ukraine as a Western proxy war against Russia, in which Ukrainians are being used as “cannon fodder.” Russian officials have argued that the US and other Western powers intentionally escalated tensions by disregarding Moscow’s security concerns over NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe and its growing military cooperation with Ukraine.

Russia and the collective West ended up locked into an “existential war,” Putin stressed, adding that many in the West have now openly admitted that. Back in March, for instance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the conflict as “frankly, a proxy war between nuclear powers – the United States, helping Ukraine, and Russia” and said the West should abandon its dead-end strategy of propping up Kiev “for as long as it takes.”

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Moscow has the means to achieve its objectives in the conflict without resorting to drastic measures, the Russian president has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Kiev’s Western backers of attempting to provoke Moscow into using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He stressed that this drastic measure has not been necessary and expressed hope that it never will be.

In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin aired on Sunday, Putin claimed that the West “wanted to provoke us, wanted to force us to make mistakes.”

“There has been no need to use [nuclear] weapons” in the Ukraine conflict, the Russian president said, adding: “I hope it won’t be necessary.”

Putin stated that Russia has “enough forces and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion” with a favorable outcome.

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Last month, Sergey Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, told TASS that nuclear weapons could be used “in the event of aggression” against Russia or Belarus, conventional or otherwise.

Shoigu, who previously served as defense minister, made the remarks amid ongoing discussions among European NATO member states on the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine after Kiev and Moscow reach a ceasefire agreement.

He reiterated that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine could lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO, potentially escalating into a nuclear war.

In his comments, Shoigu cited amendments to Russia’s nuclear doctrine which were authorized by Putin last November.

Under the updated doctrine, Moscow reserves the right to deploy its nuclear deterrent to prevent aggression by hostile powers and military blocs that possess weapons of mass destruction or large arsenals of conventional weapons. One potential scenario mentioned in the document that could trigger a response is confirmed intelligence about a massive incoming attack involving aircraft, missiles, and drones.

Russia would also consider all members of a bloc to be potential targets if one member state attacked the country. This would also apply to other nations providing their sovereign space to third parties to launch a strike.

In December 2024, Putin suggested that a “sufficient number” of Russia’s state-of-the-art Oreshnik hypersonic missiles would “simply put us on the brink of virtually no need to use nuclear weapons.”

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The Chinese leader’s three-day trip will include talks with Vladimir Putin and attendance at the Victory Day Parade

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from May 7 to 10 to attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin announced on Sunday. The visit marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

Russia will hold its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9. More than 20 foreign leaders are expected to attend the commemoration in the Russian capital, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, among others.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin first announced that he would meet with the Chinese leader during the World War II victory celebrations in Moscow. Putin later proposed a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the festivities. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky turned down the proposal, calling it a “theatrical performance” and instead pushed for a broader 30-day unconditional truce. Moscow officials said such a pause would let Kiev regroup and resupply.

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Following this, Zelensky warned global leaders heading to Moscow that Ukraine cannot assure their safety.

“During the negotiations, key issues regarding the further development of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction will be discussed, as well as current problems on the international and regional agenda,” the statement from the Kremlin said. “The signing of a number of bilateral intergovernmental and interagency documents is planned.”

The visit will be Xi’s third to Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. China has maintained a position of neutrality in the conflict but has refused to blame Russia for the hostilities and has condemned the Western sanctions on Moscow, accusing the US of having a “Cold War mentality” based on confrontation.

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Robert Fico has called Ukraine’s warnings “ridiculous” and reiterated his decision to visit Moscow for the Victory Day events

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has confirmed he will attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, dismissing warnings by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky of potential security risks as “ridiculous.”

The May 9 parade in Moscow will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin has extended invitations to the event to the leaders of Serbia, Slovakia, China, India, and Brazil, among others.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations. Zelensky rejected the offer, labeling it a “theatrical performance” and advocated for a more substantial, unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russian officials argue that a new temporary truce would simply allow Kiev to regroup and rearm.

Earlier this week Zelensky urged foreign leaders to avoid visiting Moscow, citing potential security risks. Russian officials accused Zelensky of endangering the safety of civilians attending the May 9 events. Fico, however, stated that the threats issued by Kiev would not deter him from participation in the commemoration.

“In my opinion, it’s ridiculous. I reject such threats,” Fico said at a press conference on Sunday. “I will go to the celebrations of the 80th anniversary [of Victory Day in Moscow].”

Fico claimed Zelensky was effectively warning invited leaders not to attend, with the veiled threat that Ukraine might retaliate in some way. “Well, celebrate, we might throw you a drone or something like that. These are unacceptable things for me,” he said.

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Referring to Zelensky’s claim that Kiev could not guarantee the security of attending leaders, Fico responded: “If Zelensky thinks that his cries will prevent foreign delegations from coming there, it is a huge mistake. Ensuring the security of participants [in the celebrations] is the responsibility of the Russian Federation,” said the Slovak prime minister.

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned in April that the bloc does not want any member or candidate states attending. During a meeting last month with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who earlier pledged to attend, EC Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reportedly cautioned that his attendance would be held against Serbia in its bid to join the EU.

Fico recommended “Kallas and others to deal with more serious problems than whether I will go or not to the celebration of the 80th anniversary.”

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Russian forces have routed a group seeking to penetrate into Russia, Ramzan Kadyrov has said

Russian forces have repelled another Ukrainian assault on Russia’s border region of Kursk by hitting the enemy with an artillery barrage, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said, releasing a video of the strikes.

In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Kadyrov stated that “the Nazis from the Armed Forces of Ukraine” tried to penetrate Russian territory from the neighboring Sumy Region, but were thwarted by the Akhmat Special Forces, with support from assault groups from the 2nd special forces brigade and the 15th tank regiment.

”They [the Ukrainians] just won’t calm down after their shameful expulsion from Russian soil,” he added.

Kadyrov described the tactics used to stop the incursion as “extremely simple.”

“Drone operators detect the Nazis and their fortifications on the ground and relay the coordinates to assault troops, artillerymen, or, as in this case, tank forces. Then, their positions get pounded,” he wrote.

READ MORE: Putin announces full liberation of Kursk Region: Key takeaways

The one-minute clip filmed from a drone shows a group of Ukrainian soldiers walking through a forested area and being hit by several artillery strikes. The video later shows several corpses strewn on the ground.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Ukrainian forces, which launched a full-scale incursion into Kursk Region in August 2024, were completely driven back after months of fighting. According to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, total Ukrainian losses in the area totaled over 76,000 personnel killed and wounded, as well as hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles.

Kiev has denied the statement that its forces have been routed and expelled from Kursk Region, but acknowledged that they found themselves in a “complicated” situation.

When Ukrainian forces previously occupied part of Kursk Region, Moscow accused Kiev of committing numerous atrocities against Russian civilians and prisoners of war.

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The face-to-face conversation last month was “the most substantive,” the Ukrainian leader has said

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that US President Donald Trump adjusted his view of the Russia-Ukraine conflict following their brief, impromptu meeting at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican last week. According to him, the discussion stood in sharp contrast to the heated argument the two had in the White House in February.

On April 26, Zelensky and Trump met on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral and spoke for 15 minutes without aides or interpreters. “I think the conversation I had with Trump was the best we’ve had so far. It was possibly the shortest, but also the most substantive. With all due respect to our teams, I believe the tête-à-tête format worked well. The discussion had the right atmosphere,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday.

“I’m sure that after our meeting at the Vatican, President Trump will see things a bit differently… I believe we conducted ourselves constructively and with decency, which is important,” he added.

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“I see him as calmer. I think he understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal,” Trump said of Zelensky last Sunday. “It was a beautiful meeting, I tell you, it was the nicest office I’ve ever seen. It was a beautiful scene.”

Zelensky’s trip to the US in February was cut short after Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused him of being ungrateful for US military aid and acting disrespectfully during their meeting in the Oval Office. Zelensky later said he regretted the incident but refused to issue a formal apology.

Trump has since toned down his criticism of Kiev, as his team continues efforts to broker a truce between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky, however, has accused Trump’s top negotiator, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, of “spreading Russian narratives.”

Ukraine has rejected Russia’s proposal for a 72-hour truce starting on May 8, instead pushing for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia has insisted that for any comprehensive ceasefire to succeed, Ukraine must halt its mobilization drive and stop receiving weapons from abroad. Moscow also demanded that Kiev withdraw troops from territories it claims are under “illegal occupation.”

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Last week, a similar UAV attack destroyed the iconic New Jerusalem complex in Russia’s Belgorod Region

A Ukrainian drone has targeted a Russian Orthodox church in Belgorod Region, setting fire to the building, the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has reported.

Since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, the Russian border region has repeatedly come under artillery and mortar fire, as well as UAV attacks, by Ukrainian forces.

In a post on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Gladkov wrote that the “the enemy is striking our holy sites again – an enemy drone has attacked Saint George Church in the village of Tolokonnoye,” not far from Belgorod. According to the official, the building’s domes caught fire as a result of the incident.

The governor thanked local self-defense forces for swiftly responding to the attack and extinguishing the flames quickly, which prevented further damage to the church.

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In a separate post on Saturday, Gladkov estimated that over the past 24 hours, Kiev’s forces have launched over 40 drones and fired nearly 150 artillery shells at multiple localities in Belgorod Region, resulting in material damage. There have been no reports of casualties.

Last Thursday, the iconic New Jerusalem Orthodox church complex in the region burned down following a Ukrainian drone strike. Commenting on the incident at the time, Gladkov described it as a “deliberate” attack and also accused the Ukrainian military of subsequently targeting the firefighters who were trying to contain the blaze.

The metropolitan bishop of Belgorod Region, Ioann, similarly characterized the attack as “intentional,” saying that Kiev’s troops had deployed incendiary bombs. He also accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the first responders at the scene.

The New Jerusalem complex, a wooden reproduction of biblical Jerusalem, was built in the early 2000s.

In late February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “it’s clear that the Kiev regime doesn’t shy away from anything… There’s nothing sacred [for them].”

He made the remarks after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it apprehended two suspects who had allegedly planned to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Simferopol and Crimean diocese, with a bomb, presumably at the behest of the Ukrainian intelligence services.

Metropolitan Tikhon is purported to be a close spiritual adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though neither man has ever confirmed this.

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The Ukrainian leader has hit a new low and is now threatening WW2 veterans, Maria Zakharova says

Vladimir Zelensky’s refusal to join Russia in observing a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the Victory Day celebrations exposes Kiev’s “neo-Nazi essence” and amounts to a threat by an “international-level terrorist,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian leader reiterated his refusal to accept Moscow’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire starting May 8 and continuing through the World War II Victory Day celebrations, dismissing it as a “theatrical production.” Zelensky also appeared to threaten the world leaders expected to take part in the May 9 events in Moscow, stating that Kiev cannot guarantee their safety.

Zelensky’s remarks “once again prove the neo-Nazi nature of the Kiev regime, which has turned into a terrorist cell,” Zakharova said in a statement.

“Today [Zelensky] hit a new low: now he is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and ceremonial events on that sacred day,” she said.

“After every terrorist attack on Russian territory, the Kiev regime, its security services, and Zelensky personally boast that it was their doing and that it will continue to be like this. Therefore, the phrase that he ‘does not guarantee security on May 9 on Russian territory,’ since this is not his area of responsibility, is, of course, a direct threat,” Zakharova stressed.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered a similar take on Zelensky’s remarks, stating the proposed ceasefire is a “test” for Kiev, and the apparent refusal to join it “clearly shows that neo-Nazism is the ideological basis of the contemporary Kiev regime.”

The 72-hour ceasefire was announced unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The president ordered the suspension of all military action against Ukraine’s forces from midnight on May 7 to midnight on May 10 and urged Kiev to join the truce. Zelensky and other top Ukrainian officials, however, dismissed the proposal as a “manipulation attempt,” demanding an immediate 30-day ceasefire instead.

In March, Russia and Ukraine both agreed to a US-brokered 30-day partial ceasefire focused on halting strikes on energy infrastructure. Kiev, however, violated the truce on numerous occasions, according to the Russian military.

The Victory Day truce follows a similar unilaterally announced pause during Easter weekend in April that ended up being only partially successful. While a certain lull in the hostilities was observed, Kiev violated the truce more than 3,900 times, according to estimates by the Russian Defense Ministry.

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Russia is waiting for Kiev to commit to deescalation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Russia’s proposed 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire is intended as a test to see if Ukraine really wants to settle the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, adding that Moscow is waiting for actions that demonstrate Kiev’s commitment to deescalation.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. Moscow has said the initiative is based on “humanitarian considerations” and that it could serve as a chance for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.” Ukraine, however, has called it a Russian ploy.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Peskov explained that the ceasefire offer is aimed at assessing whether Ukraine is prepared to engage in serious efforts to end the conflict.

“The reaction of the Ukrainian authorities… is a test of Ukraine’s readiness for peace,” he said. “We are waiting not for ambiguous, but definitive statements, and most importantly, actions aimed at deescalating the conflict during the holidays.”

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Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has described Moscow’s offer as “another attempt at manipulation,” which he said is meant to ensure calm during Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9. The event will be attended by numerous world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Zelensky instead called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that he is trying to buy time for the retreating Ukrainian forces to regroup.

READ MORE: Ukrainian MP threatens terror attack on Red Square

The Ukrainian leader also suggested that Kiev cannot guarantee the safety of foreign leaders planning to attend the celebrations in Moscow. Zelensky’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Moscow, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova interpreting them as a “direct threat.”

The back-and-forth over a potential ceasefire comes as US President Donald Trump continues diplomatic efforts with both Moscow and Kiev to mediate a sustainable peace. His administration has urged the sides to engage in direct talks.

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The US president previously said that America “did more than any other country” to achieve victory over Nazi Germany

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that America played the primary role in winning World War II as “pompous nonsense.”

Medvedev made the comment on his VK page on Saturday, in response to Trump’s plan to designate May 8 as ‘American Victory Day’.

“Trump recently announced that the US made the main contribution to the victory in World War II and that he would establish a holiday on May 8. A holiday is not bad. But the first conclusion is pompous nonsense,” Medvedev wrote.

Earlier this week, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he “will create a new holiday called AMERICAN VICTORY DAY, to be celebrated on May 8.”

He went on to say: “This date marks the formal surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied Forces in World War II, ending the war in Europe. AMERICAN VICTORY DAY will celebrate the heroes who helped vanquish tyranny and secure liberty for generations to come.”

Trump also said he wants to rename Veterans Day, a federal holiday celebrated on November 11, to “Victory Day for World War I,” adding that the US “won both wars.”

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In response, Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, highlighted the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany, stressing that the Red Army bore heavy losses and “liberated ungrateful Europe.”

“Our people gave 27 million lives of their sons and daughters for the sake of destroying damned fascism,” he wrote. “Victory Day is ours and it is on May 9. That’s how it was, is, and always will be!”

Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is grateful to the US for its support during WWII, but the USSR would have defeated Nazi Germany even without the assistance. “The famous Lend-Lease indeed helped us. We received vehicles, airplanes, ammunition, and tanks. And indeed, without this, it would have been very difficult.”

READ MORE: US clarifies stance on Ukraine peace talks

The Lend-Lease program was a US government initiative that provided allies with military supplies, equipment, food, and strategic raw materials. The Soviet Union received aid valued at around $200 billion in today’s terms, Peskov said. He noted, however, that the assistance was not free. Russia, as the USSR’s successor state, completed its financial obligations related to the Lend-Lease program in 2006.

Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces on May 8, 1945, following the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops. The capitulation took effect after midnight in Moscow. May 8 is observed as Victory in Europe Day, with Russia commemorating the occasion on May 9.

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The Ukrainian leader has rejected Russia’s proposal for a three-day truce from May 8 and insists on a 30-day ceasefire instead

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has warned that Kiev cannot guarantee the safety of world leaders attending the May 9 celebrations in Moscow. He also dismissed Russia’s proposal for a Victory Day ceasefire as a “theatrical production.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier announced a unilateral three-day pause in military operations starting May 8 and continuing through the World War II Victory Day celebrations, citing humanitarian reasons. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the move as a potential “start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.” Kiev, however, has demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire instead.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, Zelensky reiterated this position.

“It is impossible to build any plan for the next steps to end the war in two or three days. And so it just doesn’t look very serious... It’s more of a theatrical production on his part,” he said, referring to Putin, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine.

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“No one is going to help Putin play this in order to give him a soft atmosphere of escape from isolation on May 9, and to make everyone feel comfortable and safe – those leaders, friends, or partners of Putin who will come to Kremlin Square... We are either at war, or Putin is showing that he is ready for a ceasefire,” Zelensky added.

He claimed that Kiev is ready to declare a ceasefire at any time, provided both sides agree that it will last for at least 30 days.

In March, Russia and Ukraine both agreed to a 30-day partial ceasefire with US mediation, focused on halting strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukraine, however, violated the truce on multiple occasions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Moscow has said it is prepared for peace talks but has repeatedly warned that any short-term pause without an official deal would be used by Kiev’s Western allies to rearm the Ukrainian military. Commenting on Kiev’s demand for a longer truce, Lavrov said last week it reflected Ukraine’s worsening position on the battlefield.

READ MORE: Zelensky openly threatening Victory Day terrorist attack – Moscow

The Russian government extended invitations to a number of world leaders to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, including the leaders of China, India, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Slovakia, and Serbia.

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A series of Ukrainian drone raids has also been repelled across Russia, with a total of 170 UAVs downed

Russian anti-aircraft defenses have repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack, downing eight Western-supplied missiles and 170 drones across several regions, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Saturday.

According to a statement posted on Telegram, Russian air defenses destroyed a total of eight Franco-British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and three Ukrainian Neptune-MD guided missiles. The Black Sea Fleet also neutralized 14 unmanned surface vessels operating in the waterway.

Most of the drone activity was concentrated over Crimea, where 96 aircraft-type UAVs were intercepted, the ministry said. Another 47 were downed over Krasnodar Region, 16 over Bryansk and Kursk Regions, nine over Rostov Region, and two over Belgorod Region.

Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said debris from intercepted drones damaged three apartment buildings in Novorossiysk, injuring four people, including two children. Three grain storage tanks also caught fire after being hit by falling fragments. He added that drone debris also landed in the villages of Taman, Yurovka, and Tsibanobalka near Anapa.

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In Rostov Region, acting Governor Yury Slyusar reported that drone wreckage ignited fires in two houses in the village of Tselina. No injuries were reported. Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed that there were no casualties or damage in his region. Officials in Crimea, Belgorod, and Kursk Regions have yet to comment on the attacks.

Amid the drone attacks, traffic on the Crimean Bridge was halted for four hours.

Ukrainian forces routinely target Russian territory with long-range kamikaze drones and Western-supplied missiles. On Friday, Ukraine launched a combined attack on Sevastopol, Crimea. Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the local air defenses and naval forces successfully intercepted the strike, with no damage reported. A day earlier, a Ukrainian drone strike on the town of Aleshki in Kherson Region killed seven people and injured more than 20.

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The attack comes days before the ‘Victory Day truce’ proposed by President Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian drones struck apartment blocks and houses in Russia’s southern Rostov and Krasnodar regions early Saturday, officials said.

Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar reported that two adults and two children were evacuated after fragments from a downed UAV caused a fire on the roof of a house in the village of Tselina. A non-residential building was also damaged, he added.

Slyusar noted that drones were intercepted over several areas, including the mining towns of Novoshakhtinsk and Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.

In Krasnodar Region, officials said that “drone fragments” damaged three houses in Anapa, a resort town on the Black Sea coast.

Telegram channels reported drone attacks in the port cities of Novorossiysk and Taman near Crimea, with UAV debris found scattered on the streets.

The authorities in Novorossiysk, home to a Russian naval base, said the military was responding to “an attack by UAVs and seaborne drones.” A drone crashed into a high-rise apartment building in the city.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said four people, including two children, were injured in Novorossiysk, where drone strikes damaged three apartment blocks and sparked a fire at a grain terminal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a 72-hour truce starting on May 8, timed to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the proposal as “another attempt at manipulation.”

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Senior lawmaker Daniil Getmantsev has thanked models who pay taxes, adding that he knows many of them personally

A senior Ukrainian lawmaker has hailed the contribution models performing on the adult content site OnlyFans make to the nation’s budget. Daniil Getmantsev, the head of the parliament’s Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Committee, thanked the “models” creating content for the site associated with sex workers for paying taxes, adding that he knows many of them personally.

The MP was responding to a journalist’s question about the tax debts accumulated by sex industry models.

”I am very grateful to those models who paid taxes,” Getmantsev responded, stating that the sum that was paid was “quite large” and that he communicates with “many” of the models via social media.

The total sum generated by OnlyFans amounts to “over 14 million hryvnas ($335,233), Ukrainian broadcaster TCN reported on Thursday, citing the head of the State Tax Service, Ruslan Kravchenko.

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Getmantsev called for the decriminalization of sex-industry content production, branding the current Ukrainian government as “hypocritical” on the issue. According to Getmantsev, OnlyFans models should be treated as “self-employed persons” like artists.

Creators of adult content in Ukraine currently could face up to five years in prison for the “import, production, sale, and distribution of pornographic materials.”

In 2021, the Ukrainian parliament passed digital services tax legislation dubbed the “Google Tax Act.” The law focuses on regulation and taxation of online adult content websites and services.

Ukrainian media reported in January that only 10% of 4,400 OnlyFans models had replied to State Tax Service demands to pay taxes, submitting declarations totaling 326.1 million hryvnas ($7.76 million).

The filings revealed a tax debt amounting to $1.5 million at the time and triggered a series of raids against OnlyFans models by Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security.

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The agreement does not provide Kiev with security guarantees, according to Prime Minister Denis Shmigal

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has confirmed that Kiev’s key demand of US-provided security guarantees is not part of the recently signed mineral resources agreement between the two countries.

The deal was signed on Wednesday after months of negotiations and later published by the Ukrainian government. The agreement establishes a joint investment fund and gives Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Half of future revenues from the nation’s mineral, gas and oil extraction ventures will go into the fund, tax-free, while the US will match the payments, with any future military aid counted as part of Washington’s contributions.

“There are no formal defense guarantees in this agreement, but each new military aid package provided by the US to Ukraine is considered a capital contribution,” Shmigal said in the Ukrainian parliament on Friday.

This encourages the US administration to continue and not stop supplying us with weapons.

The official added that “the supply of intelligence data” to Kiev continues as in the past.

The agreement awaits ratification by the Ukrainian parliament.

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According to reports by multiple US outlets, Ukraine had dropped its stipulation that security guarantees be part of the deal after Washington rejected the idea.

In the months ahead of the signing, Trump had touted the agreement as a way for the US to recoup the money it has spent backing Ukraine in the current conflict, which, according to the president, totals some $350 billion. However, there is no repayment clause in the final agreement, meaning the deal only pertains to future military aid.

Trump has since said that Washington could “in theory” get “much more” than his $350 billion estimate from the deal.

The deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has pointed out that the US president essentially “forced the Kiev regime to pay for American aid,” with “the national wealth of a vanishing country.”

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Moscow’s global playbook is shaped by history and focused on survival

“Only crows fly straight,” goes an old saying from the Vladimir-Suzdal region, where the revival of the Russian state began after the devastation of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. Within 250 years, a powerful state emerged in Eastern Europe, its independence and decision-making unquestioned by others. From its earliest days, Russia’s foreign policy culture has been shaped by a single goal: to preserve the nation’s ability to determine its own future.

The methods have varied, but a few constants remain: no fixed strategies, no binding ideologies, and an ability to surprise opponents. Unlike European or Asian powers, Russia never needed rigid doctrines; its vast, unpredictable geography – and its instinct for unorthodox solutions – made that unnecessary. Yet this distinctive foreign policy culture did not develop overnight.

Before the mid-13th century, Russia’s trajectory looked much like the rest of Eastern Europe’s. Fragmented and inward-looking, its city-states had little reason to unify. Geography and climate kept them largely self-contained. It could have ended up like other Slavic nations, eventually dominated by German or Turkish powers.

But then came what Nikolay Gogol called a “wonderful event”: the 1237 Mongol invasion. Russia’s strongest state centers were obliterated. This catastrophe, paradoxically, gave rise to two defining features of Russian statehood: a reason to unify and a deep-seated pragmatism. For 250 years, Russians paid tribute to the Golden Horde but were never its slaves.

The relationship with the Horde was a constant struggle – clashes alternating with tactical cooperation. It was during this period that the “sharp sword of Moscow” was forged: a state that functioned as a military organization, always blending conflict and diplomacy. War and peace merged seamlessly, without the moral dilemmas that often paralyze others.

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These centuries also forged another trait of Russian thinking: the strength of the adversary is irrelevant to the legitimacy of its demands. Unlike the Western Hobbesian notion that might makes right, Russians have historically viewed force as just one factor – not the determinant of truth. A 16th-century song about a Crimean Khan’s raid sums it up: he is called both a “tsar” for his military power and a “dog” for lacking justice. Similarly, after the Cold War, Russia recognized Western power – but not the righteousness of its actions.

Demographics have always been a challenge, driven by climate and geography. Russia’s population did not match that of France until the late 18th century, despite covering an area many times larger than Western Europe. And crucially, Russia has never relied on external allies. Its foreign policy rests on the understanding that no one else will solve its problems – a lesson learned through bitter experience. Yet Russia has always been a reliable ally to others.

A pivotal moment came in the mid-15th century, when Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich settled Kazan princes on Russia’s eastern borders. This marked the beginning of Russia’s multi-ethnic statehood, where loyalty – not religion – was the key requirement. Unlike Western Europe, where the church dictated social order, Russia’s statehood grew as a mosaic of ethnic and religious groups, all unified by a shared commitment to defense.

This pragmatism – welcoming Christians, Muslims, and others alike – set Russia apart. Spain’s rulers completed the Reconquista by expelling or forcibly converting Jews and Muslims; Russia integrated its minorities, allowing them to serve and prosper without renouncing their identities.

Today, Russia’s foreign policy still draws on these deep traditions. Its core priority remains the same: defending sovereignty and retaining freedom of choice in a volatile world. And true to form, Russia resists doctrinaire strategies. Fixed doctrines require fixed ideologies – something historically alien to Russia.

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Russia also rejects the idea of “eternal enemies.” The Mongol Horde, once its deadliest foe, was absorbed within decades of its collapse. Its nobles merged with Russian aristocracy, its cities became Russian cities. No other country has fully absorbed such a formidable rival. Even Poland, a centuries-long adversary, was eventually diminished not by decisive battles but by sustained pressure.

Victory for Russia has never been about glory – it’s about achieving objectives. Often, this means exhausting adversaries rather than crushing them outright. The Mongols were defeated in 1480 without a single major battle. Similarly, Poland was gradually reduced in stature over centuries of relentless pressure.

This mindset explains Russia’s readiness to negotiate at every stage: politics always outweighs military concerns. Foreign and domestic policy are inseparable, and every foreign venture is also a bid to strengthen internal cohesion, just as the medieval princes of Moscow used external threats to unite the Russian lands.

Today’s geopolitical landscape is shifting again. The West – led by the United States – remains powerful, but no longer omnipotent. China is expanding its influence, though cautiously. Western Europe, historically Russia’s main threat, is losing its relevance, unable to define a vision for its own future. Russia, the US and China all possess that vision – and in the coming decades, their triangular relationship will shape global politics. India may join this elite circle in time, but for now, it still lags behind.

Does this mean Russia will pivot fully eastward? Unlikely. Classical geopolitics teaches that the main focus must remain where the primary threat lies. Western Europe may no longer be the center of global politics, but it remains the crucial frontier, the dividing line between Russia and American power.

Still, the real opportunities lie in Eurasia. Peaceful, prosperous ties with eastern neighbors are essential for Russia’s internal development. That, ultimately, is what will provide the resources for Russia’s most cherished goal: the freedom to chart its own course.

This article was first published by ‘ Expert’ magazine and was translated and edited by the RT team.

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Yury Pavlenko has suggested targeting Moscow despite Vladimir Putin’s proposal of a 72-hour ceasefire

Kiev could target Moscow’s Red Square during next week’s Victory Day celebrations, a Ukrainian lawmaker has suggested, despite Russia’s offer of a three-day ceasefire. May 9 marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8 to 10, citing “humanitarian considerations.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later described the truce as a chance to begin “direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”

However, in an interview with Ukrainian media on Wednesday, Yury Pavlenko openly suggested that Ukraine could try to derail Victory Day, which is one of the most revered holidays in Russia, as well as many former Soviet republics.

”I think the time will come when we will strike Red Square – whether it happens this May 9 or sometime later, that time will come,” Pavlenko said, claiming that the Russian capital is full of “legitimate military targets… that have brought much grief to Ukrainian soil.”

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He noted that the final decision rests with Ukraine’s military leadership, taking into account the presence of foreign dignitaries from neutral countries. This year’s Victory Day parade is expected to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, among others.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has branded the Russian truce proposal a “manipulation,” while calling for a longer ceasefire of 30 days. “They are now concerned that their parade is in jeopardy and rightly so,” Zelensky said. “What they should worry about is that this war continues.”

In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that Kiev “is literally planning terrorist attacks on air,” which she said undermines the prospects for peace talks.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Kiev has conducted a number of drone attacks on Moscow. On May 3, 2023, Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Putin by targeting the Kremlin with two drones, which were shot down before they could cause significant damage.

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An alleged supporter of a terror group planned to blow up a building housing law enforcement in Dagestan, security forces say

Russia’s Federal Security Service, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has reportedly thwarted a planned terrorist attack against law enforcement officers in the southern Republic of Dagestan.

The authorities have detained a 27-year-old female supporter of a banned international terrorist organization, according to a press release published on Friday. The suspect was allegedly planning to detonate an improvised explosive device at an administrative building housing law enforcement in Khasavyurt, the second largest city of the republic.

Officials seized components intended for the construction of the explosive device during the arrest raid. Messages found on her electronic devices allegedly show she had specified plans for the bombing and her loyalty to the group, which is banned in Russia.

Last year, the director of the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Aleksandr Bortnikov warned that international terrorist organizations were ramping up their propaganda efforts in Russia’s North Caucasus regions.

According to the official, the groups were spreading “radical strains of Islam [which are] not traditional to Russia” focusing on spreading their messages online as well as through unofficial places of worship. Preventing the spread of terrorist ideologies in the North Caucasus should be the authorities’ top priority, Bortnikov said.

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The raid did not result in any damage in Sevastopol, according to the local governor

The Russian military repelled a series of Ukrainian drone raids overnight on Thursday, downing a total of 121 UAVs, the Defense Ministry has said. In a statement on Friday, officials reported no damage to the port city of Sevastopol, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, following the attack.

The majority of the aircraft-type drones – 89 in total – were intercepted over Crimea, and another 23 over the Black Sea, according to the statement.

In mainland Russia, four drones were downed over Krasnodar Region, two over Oryol Region, one over Bryansk Region, and one over Belgorod Region. Another drone was intercepted over the Sea of Azov.

READ MORE: Ukrainian drones target civilians at busy market – governor (VIDEO)

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor of Sevastopol, reported a “massive combined attack” on the city, which he said was defeated by the fleet and local air defense forces. He added that no damage was done in the city, and that all emergency services remain on high alert.

Ukraine routinely launches drone raids into Russia, with strikes often targeting critical infrastructure and civilians. On Thursday, the Ukrainian military launched a drone strike on the town of Aleshki in Russia’s Kherson Region, killing at least seven and injuring more than 20.

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The ex-Russian president has said Beijing has the means to survive US pressure

US President Donald Trump’s misplaced tariff policies are hurting America’s allies but will fail to tank the Chinese economy, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

In early April, Trump announced sweeping tariffs on most of America’s trading partners, citing what he called an unfair trade imbalance. After backlash overseas and a negative response from the stock market, he suspended most new tariffs for dozens of countries – except China – for 90 days pending negotiations.

In a tongue-in-cheek post on Telegram on Labor Day, Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, argued that Trump deserves an “exemplary labor” award for “starting the tariff battle.”

America’s neighbors and its allies in Europe are “suffering” and “crying” from the tariffs, the former president wrote. “They are all in a really bad position, facing the need to bow down in a ritual known as ‘kiss my ass.’”

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“China, on the other hand, possesses enormous resources and a vast domestic market –factors that will enable its economy to withstand any amount of pressure. This is where Trump made a blunder,” he said. “Trump’s approval ratings have dipped, while the ‘deep state’ is vigorously resisting him.”

Beijing responded to tariffs of up to 245% on its goods by imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on American imports. “Bowing to a bully is like drinking poison to quench thirst – it only deepens the crisis,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said this week, warning that China “won’t kneel down.”

Trump has defended his policies, doubling down on his claims that Beijing engages in unfair trade practices. “They deserve it,” he said, responding to a reporter’s question on whether his tariffs are tantamount to an embargo.

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Chay Bowes was taken for questioning from a plane as he landed in Bucharest to cover the upcoming vote

The detention of RT correspondent Chay Bowes in Bucharest proves to the entire world that the upcoming Romanian election is a “meme,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RT in a phone interview on Thursday.

Bowes was detained by the Romanian authorities on Thursday after his plane landed in Bucharest. He was traveling from Ireland to Romania to cover the upcoming presidential election. The vote is a re-run, since the election first round was controversially annulled last year following a surprise win by NATO-skeptic independent candidate Calin Georgescu.

“The Romanian election really is a meme,” Zakharova told RT when asked to comment on Bowes’ detention.

The RT correspondent was arrested despite “not having violated anything, having followed all formal procedures and having crossed the border legally,” she said.

Romanian security personnel were on hand to arrest him before he even exited the plane, she added.

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“That tells us that they knew about his arrival and they were ready to pressure him and to make sure that he could not carry out his professional activities, that he could not cover the Romanian election,” she stressed.

“The situation around the election in Romania is so scandalous. It’s so dead-ended and it discredits the level of that pseudo democracy in Romania,” Zakharova said.

The situation is even more “outrageous” in light of “the statements that we heard from Bucharest about freedom of speech” in Russia, she added.

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the original round of voting last year, citing intelligence reports alleging that Georgescu’s shock victory was facilitated by Russian interference in his electoral Tik-Tok campaign – claims Moscow has denied.

Georgescu is currently banned from running, and faces multiple criminal charges in Romania which he has dismissed as politically motivated.

Both US Vice President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk have criticized Romania’s controversial decision to annul the first-round results.

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Kiev and Washington have signed a long-awaited deal to exploit Ukrainian natural resources

US President Donald Trump has forced Kiev to sell off Ukraine’s mineral wealth for continued military aid, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said.

Washington and Kiev signed a long-anticipated deal on the joint extraction of Ukrainian natural resources on Wednesday, after months of contentious negotiations. Trump has advertised the agreement as a way to get back the roughly $350 billion he claims Washington has spent on support for Kiev in the conflict with Russia.

The agreement does not mention security guarantees, which Ukraine previously insisted on. Instead, it focuses on future US aid, rather than paying back assistance provided to Ukraine in the past.

“Trump has finally broken the Kiev regime into paying for American aid with minerals,” Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said in a Telegram post on Thursday. “Now military supplies will have to be paid for with the national wealth of a disappearing country.”

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In February, Trump and Zelensky had a public spat in the Oval Office just as a deal was widely expected to be signed. After the meeting, the US president temporarily froze military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev for around a month.

The full text of the agreement signed on Wednesday has not been published, but available details suggest it is centered on a joint reconstruction investment fund. Ukraine is to contribute 50% of the revenue for new licenses for future resource extraction projects into the fund.

One potential difficulty with this deal is that as of now, Ukraine’s much-discussed rare-earths – highly sought-after metals used in high-tech production – are still largely untapped and need billions in investments to mine, the Washington Post wrote on Thursday, citing analysts.

Additionally, a significant portion of the resources – according to old data from when Ukraine was a Soviet republic – is located in the Donbass region, a large part of which is now part of Russia, the WaPo said.

READ MORE: Moscow rules out Ukrainian return to 1991 borders

In 2023, Forbes estimated Ukraine’s mineral wealth at roughly $15 trillion, with nearly half of this in Russia’s Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

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Alexey Arestovich has accused the Ukrainian leader of corruption and suggested that Kiev should cede land to Russia

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has announced sanctions against his former top adviser. Alexey Arestovich has frequently criticized both Ukraine’s leadership and its military strategy in its conflict with Russia.

Arestovich was among several Ukrainians mentioned in a decree released by Zelensky’s office on Thursday. Penalties imposed include asset freezes, restricted trade and financial transactions, travel, and the revocation of state awards.

Arestovich served as an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine between 2020 and January 2023. He resigned in controversy after claiming that a Russian missile hit a residential building in the city of Dnepr only because it had been downed by Ukrainian air defenses. Following public outrage and accusations that he had discredited the Ukrainian army, Arestovich backtracked, apologized, and submitted his resignation.

He has since become a prominent commentator on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, often presenting views that diverge from the official Ukrainian narrative. Last month, he suggested that Kiev should agree to cede land to Russia as part of a potential US-brokered peace deal, warning that any attempts to reclaim lost territories would only backfire.

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“Why should we give up four regions? So that in six months or a year we don’t lose another six or eight,” he said, referring to four former Ukrainian territories that in 2022 voted in public referendums to join Russia.

Kiev has consistently refused to acknowledge any territorial losses, however..

Arestovich has also accused the Ukrainian leadership of corruption. He has claimed that Zelensky is personally involved in numerous graft schemes and that Kiev’s Western backers are well aware of his activities.

He has also signaled that he wants to run for president of Ukraine. Zelensky, whose term expired last year, has refused to call new elections, citing martial law, which has been extended more than a dozen times.

Addressing the sanctions, the ex-adviser predicted that the Ukrainian authorities would now try to limit his media reach by cutting off access to his YouTube channel from the country’s territory.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry made the statement while commenting on Kiev’s deadly strike on civilians at a market in Kherson region

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday said Moscow would not permit the restoration of Ukrainian territory to the limits of its 1991 borders as that would represent a threat to Russian citizens. The ministry’s statement followed a Ukrainian drone strike on a crowded market in the Russian town on Aleshki, in Kherson region, which Moscow has condemned as a deliberate terrorist act.

The attack occurred around 9:30 am local time on May 1, a holiday in Russia, when Ukrainian forces used FPV drones to strike the market during peak hours. According to preliminary data, seven civilians were killed and over 20 injured. Local authorities stated that a second wave of drones targeted survivors and first responders, exacerbating the casualties.

“This atrocity has once again revealed the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, the aim of the current Ukrainian rulers to escalate the armed conflict and disrupt any attempts at a peaceful settlement,” the Russian ministry said in the statement, adding that the attack was intentionally timed to coincide with a public holiday to maximize civilian harm.

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The ministry also criticized Ukraine’s backers, stating that Thursday’s attack “is also on the conscience of Western sponsors who supply [Kiev] with weapons and finances.” It emphasized that Russia would not permit the restoration of Ukraine within its 1991 borders.

“It is quite obvious that behind the futile and groundless calls of the Kiev regime and the forces supporting it in the West for the so-called restoration of Ukraine within the borders of 1991, there is a cannibalistic instinct to exterminate all Russians. Of course, Russia will never allow such a scenario to happen,” the ministry statement said.

While Moscow and Washington are in talks about a possible ending of the Ukraine conflict, Brussels has signaled it may oppose some US proposals. Reported details of the possible agreement include US recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea. Additionally, the proposal reportedly includes a “freezing” of the conflict along the existing front line and an acknowledgment of Moscow’s control over significant portions of four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia.

READ MORE: Ukraine willing to ‘de facto’ cede land to Russia – Trump envoy

In an interview in the Financial Times on Wednesday, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas claimed that the EU won’t agree to Russia’s sovereignty over the peninsula.

“I can’t see that we are accepting these kind of things. But we can’t speak for America, of course, and what they will do,” Kallas told the outlet. “On the European side, we have said this over and over again . . . Crimea is Ukraine.”

Crimea voted to join Russia shortly after a violent US-backed coup in Kiev in 2014. The Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, followed suit in 2022.

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The opposition Party of Socialists has called the demonstration the “informal start” of its election campaign

Opposition supporters have marched in Chisinau to protest Moldova’s pro-EU government under President Maia Sandu. The rally, organized by the country’s largest opposition group, coincided with International Labor Day, celebrated on May 1.

According to the organizers – the Party of Socialists led by former President Igor Dodon – around 10,000 people took part in the march on Thursday. Demonstrators carried Moldovan and Socialist Party flags, banners with Soviet-era symbols, and posters with slogans against “social genocide.” They also chanted in support of Moldova’s sovereignty and a future free from foreign interference.

In a promotional video ahead of the march, the organizers criticized the government for rising prices, mass emigration, and the loss of sovereignty, blaming foreign influence for the country’s deepening problems.

“We will gather in Chisinau to remember that Moldova belongs to its people. This march is the beginning of our struggle for sovereignty, for neutrality, for national interests,” the Party of Socialists said in the message.

Addressing the crowd, Dodon called the rally the “informal start” of his party’s parliamentary election campaign. An election is expected to take place in September.

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Dodon said the march was organized not only to celebrate Labor Day, but also to protest the country’s political and economic direction.

“Moldova is going through difficult times. The country is sinking deeper into debt, people are becoming poor, young people are leaving en masse, and national wealth is being destroyed,” he stated. “The current government has turned our homeland into a bargaining chip in other people’s games and is dragging Moldova towards war. We say enough is enough!”

Media reports suggest that the march remained peaceful, with no incidents or clashes.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic wedged between Romania and Ukraine, has pushed for EU and NATO membership since 2020, when Sandu, a pro-Western leader and critic of Russia, came to power. One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has seen persistent accusations from Sandu’s opponents, who claim her administration has caused economic and energy crises. Sandu was reelected last year, but her runoff win remains a point of contention.

READ MORE: Moldovan govt accused of ‘spiritual terror’ after bishop’s Easter trip blocked

The Party of Socialists has opposed Sandu’s reelection and refused to recognize her victory in last year’s runoff. Last month, the party also accused her administration of “an unprecedented act of spiritual terror” after a senior Moldovan Orthodox Church bishop was barred from traveling to Jerusalem for an Easter ritual.

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The country’s security agency has detained four suspects after 120,000 faulty mortar rounds were sent to the frontline

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested several military officials for their alleged involvement in a corruption scheme that resulted in tens of thousands of defective mortar shells being sent to the front line. Ukraine has long been notorious for rampant corruption, a problem exacerbated when large military procurement orders began being placed.

Complaints from frontline soldiers about subpar 120mm mortar shells began to pour in to Kiev late last year. Service members claimed that only one in ten shells exploded due to a smorgasbord of problems, including wet powder and faulty fuses. Local media later reported that as many as 100,000 shells had been recalled, and that authorities had launched an investigation.

In a statement on Tuesday, the SBU said that a defense plant in Dnepropetrovsk Region supplied the military with 120,000 mortar rounds unsuitable for combat use. Without identifying the facility, the agency said that it had detained four suspects, including the plant’s director general, his deputy, as well as two military officials who were responsible for receiving the rounds and overseeing production.

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According to the SBU, the plant signed a contract with Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency to produce 120,000 mortar shells. However, in some cases, the plant used “low-quality materials and performed defective work” to produce the shells.

This way, the agency continued, “the organizers of the scheme tried to reduce the cost of production in order to get a greater profit from the state order.” Moreover, the military officials overseeing the process were involved in the scheme and deliberately “turned a blind eye” to the defective batch of ammunition, the statement read.

The defendants are now charged with aggravated obstruction of the military leading to severe consequences, and face 15 years in prison.

Last year, several media reports indicated that the mortar shell crisis was only one facet of the difficulties in the Ukrainian defense industry, which was struggling to begin mass domestic production due to logistics and personnel issues.

Corruption has also been a long-standing issue in Ukraine’s defense sector, especially after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Kiev’s Western backers have acknowledged the problem, citing graft as a major obstacle to the country’s EU integration.

Earlier this week, US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz called for proper oversight of American aid to Kiev, calling Ukraine “one of the most corrupt countries in the world.”

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At least seven people have been killed and over 20 wounded in Russia’s Kherson Region, Vladimir Saldo has said

The Ukrainian military carried out a drone strike on the town of Aleshki in Russia’s Kherson Region on Thursday, targeting a busy local market, the regional governor, Vladimir Saldo, has said. At least seven people have been killed in the attack and over 20 more wounded, he added in a post on Telegram.

According to Saldo, the attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time near the central market, where many people were present. He said the initial “massive strike” was followed by another aimed “to finish off the survivors.”

Saldo said emergency services have already arrived at the scene. He also posted on his Telegram channel a video purportedly showing the second drone attack.

“There were a lot of people in the market at the time of the attack. According to preliminary data, at least 7 people were killed and more than 20 injured. Details are being clarified,” Saldo wrote in his post.

In a video address on Telegram, Saldo said Ukrainian attacks on settlements near the Dnieper River in Kherson Region have intensified since Wednesday. “They dropped shells and ammunition from drones on the houses of heads of municipal divisions. In the morning, they continued attacks in the most barbaric way at the market in the town of Aleshki,” he said, comparing Kiev’s forces to the followers of the World War II-era Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera.

Saldo added that Ukrainian forces have previously also “systematically” targeted ambulances, making it difficult to evacuate the wounded from affected areas.

READ MORE: Zelensky openly threatening Victory Day terrorist attack – Moscow

The town of Aleshki sits on the left bank of the Dnieper River, about 5km southeast of Kherson, which is under Ukrainian control. As of 2019, its population was 24,600 people. By 2024, the population had dropped fourfold, mainly due to Ukrainian military aggression and constant shelling. The town was targeted by Ukrainian drones last month, when Kiev violated the Easter truce previously reached with Moscow.

Kherson Region, along with Zaporozhye and the Donbass republics, joined Russia following referendums in 2022. Parts of the region, however, remain under Kiev’s control. Genichesk has been designated as the temporary administrative center.

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The Russian leader has lauded his country’s contribution to the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II

President Vladimir Putin has described Russia as a nation of winners, praising the country’s role in the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The Russian leader made the remarks on Wednesday at the Znanie.First educational marathon in Moscow, held ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in 1945.

Putin emphasized the sacrifices made by all Soviet republics during the war, with a particular focus on Russia’s contribution.

“For victory, no one spared themselves,” he said. “Russia, due to its scale, of course made the greatest contribution to this victory. It gave the most – its sons and daughters who died defending the motherland and our common future.”

Putin added that nations defeated in the war are now trying to lecture Russia and “distort the truth.” However, he insisted that Russia is “without a doubt, a nation of winners” and continues to stand its ground.

“When I say ‘nation’, I mean all the peoples, all the ethnic groups of the former Soviet Union, and of course, of Russia,” Putin said.

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Moscow views the victory over Nazi Germany as a profound symbol of national resilience, as the USSR lost an estimated 26.6 million lives during the war. For this year’s commemoration, the Russian government has extended multiple invitations, including to the leaders of China, India, and Brazil, as well as numerous other international leaders.

Russia will celebrate the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of fascism and hold its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9. More than 20 foreign leaders are expected to attend, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned the leaders of the bloc’s candidate countries against attending Russia’s celebrations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Kallas’ comments as tantamount to a revival of Nazism.

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The Russian president has addressed participants at an educational marathon

Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a lengthy speech at the Znanie.First educational marathon in Moscow on Wednesday, offering blunt assessments on historical memory, current military operations, and geopolitical tensions. He said that Russia made the greatest contribution to victory in World War II, predicted a future thaw in relations with Europe, revealed that French citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and commented on the military situation in Kursk Region.

Here are the key take aways from his remarks:

1) On French citizens fighting alongside Russian troops

Putin stated that French nationals are currently taking part in the Ukraine conflict on the Russian side, referencing a historical WWII unit, the ‘Normandie-Niemen’ squadron, composed of French pilots who fought alongside the Soviet Air Force. He did not provide figures or further details.

“There have always been people in France who share Russia’s values. Such people still exist today.”

“Some citizens of the French Republic are fighting shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers in the area of the special military operation. They named their unit as their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did – ‘Normandie-Niemen’.”

2) On the future of Russia-Europe relations

The Russian president expressed confidence that the strained ties between Russia and European countries would eventually be repaired.

“Sooner or later, relations between Russia and Europe will be restored. This is beyond doubt.”

3) On Europeans who share Russia’s position

Putin pointed out that support for Russia’s stance exists across Europe, though often unspoken due to social or political pressure. He suggested that only a few individuals dare to express this alignment publicly.

“In Europe, there are many people who share our position. Some remain silent; few have the audacity to voice their opinion.”

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4) On Soviet republics’ contribution in World War II victory

Putin emphasized the sacrifices made by the all republics of the Soviet Union, particularly Russia, which was a part of the USSR back then, in securing victory in the Second World War.

“The Russian Federation, due to its scale, of course made the greatest contribution to this victory. It gave the most – its sons and daughters who died defending the motherland and our common future.”

“For victory, no one spared themselves.”

5) On the Kursk Region frontline

Putin described the Ukrainian forces in the area as fragmented and cut off, hiding in “holes” and “basements” with no way to retreat. He said Russia had cleared most of the region but that remnants of the opposing side were being offered a chance to surrender.

“Yes, we drove [the Ukrainian Armed Forces] out of the Kursk Region,” Putin said.

“They’re still sitting in cracks and basements somewhere.”

He added that evacuation was impossible due to the dispersed nature of these units, despite Ukrainian appeals. Putin also supported the idea of creating a memorial in the region to honor Russian volunteers who participated in the fighting.

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From Cold War allies to modern-day comrades, Pyongyang and Moscow revive a military partnership

Earlier this week, both Moscow and Pyongyang confirmed what had long been rumored: North Korean soldiers are actively participating in Russia’s military operations. The announcement came on the heels of the full recapture of Russia’s Kursk region – where, it turns out, North Korean units played a key role.

“The Russian people will never forget the sacrifice of the Korean special forces,” Russian President Vladimir Putin declared. “We will forever honor these heroes who gave their lives for Russia, for our shared freedom.” He praised the allied units for fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Russian troops, defending the country as if it were their own.

RT takes a closer look at the roots of this unlikely battlefield brotherhood and how it has evolved into a modern-day military partnership.

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An alliance forged in history

Moscow and Pyongyang have a history of military cooperation that dates back to the Korean War. In the early 1950s, as the Cold War reached a boiling point on the Korean Peninsula, the United States backed South Korea with boots on the ground, while China threw its full military weight behind the North.

The Soviet Union, though officially neutral, fought its own shadow war – less with words than with jet engines and steel. Soviet tanks, Katyusha rocket launchers, and small arms poured into North Korea, breathing life into its struggling army. But the real game-changer was in the skies: elite Soviet pilots, many of them veterans of World War II, flew cutting-edge MiG-15 jet fighters under the guise of being “volunteers,” sometimes even donning Chinese or North Korean uniforms. These squadrons engaged US F-86 Sabres in brutal dogfights over Korean airspace.

The USSR’s 64th Fighter Aviation Corps – complete with anti-aircraft units and signal troops – played a decisive role in that air war. The ties forged during those years never fully faded, and now, decades later, it’s North Korea coming to Russia’s aid.

As Russia’s military confrontation with Ukraine dragged on, it began using munitions manufactured in North Korea. Isolated from the West, Moscow has been deepening ties with non-Western partners, and Pyongyang has emerged as one of its most reliable suppliers of military equipment.

On October 24 of last year, the two nations ratified a sweeping Strategic Partnership Treaty. It obligates each side to provide military assistance “by all available means” in the event of an armed attack. That agreement laid the groundwork for North Korean troops to deploy to Russia.

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Battle-tested under the Russian flag

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called the soldiers who fought in Kursk “heroes,” framing their involvement as a “sacred mission” to strengthen ties with Russia. Pyongyang plans to erect a monument in their honor.

While official numbers remain classified, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service estimates that up to 15,000 North Korean troops have fought on Russia’s side.

According to Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots, the North Koreans began with intensive training at Russian ranges before being deployed to the front. “They lived in field conditions,” he said. “At first, they were held in reserve, then moved to more active positions – eventually participating in direct assaults.” The troops reportedly impressed Russian commanders with their discipline, coordination, and tenacity. And they had a standing order: never be taken alive.

One Russian soldier remarked that this ethos reminded him of Wagner Group fighters, who were known to carry grenades “just in case.” “They were instantly accepted by our former Wagner guys,” he noted.

Another correspondent, Semyon Pegov of WarGonzo, described their combat debut near Kursk as “nothing short of cinematic.” Drones captured footage of large North Korean formations advancing steadily, five to six meters apart, under heavy Ukrainian artillery fire – including cluster munitions.

At first, it seemed the group had been wiped out. But hours later, survivors emerged from the snow and resumed the assault. “Seventy percent of them got up and pressed forward, covering up to eight kilometers in a single day,” Pegov reported, adding that casualties were in the dozens.

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On the ground: life and language in a warzone

North Korean troops were primarily stationed in the southern Suzhansky district – around the villages of Plekhovo, Guevo, and Kurilovka. The contingent included special forces, conscripts, and a dedicated medical evacuation unit.

According to Russian outlet Mash, the troops lived separately and communicated via a designated interpreter. They were equipped with North Korean-made weapons, including the 170mm “Koksan” artillery piece. They also sampled Russian food – and reportedly became fans of Russian rap music.

The language barrier proved to be a significant hurdle at first. To overcome it, the soldiers memorized a cheat sheet of 20 essential Russian commands like “Take cover,” “Cover me,” and “Fire!” – allowing them to train without an interpreter.

A Russian officer with the callsign ‘Kondrat’ said the most difficult challenge was adjusting the North Korean troops’ attack strategies. “They wanted to charge in formation, textbook-style,” he explained. “We had to convince them that small, flexible units were more effective – and they adapted quickly once the bullets started flying.”

“Once one wave stalled, another would follow with the same relentless rhythm and fatalism,” a Russian battalion member remarked. “What drives men to fight like that? It must be something stronger than fear of death.”

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What comes next?

Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the Russian parliament’s defense committee, praised the North Koreans’ performance. “They were a real asset. Our guys have been fighting since 2014, and there’s a lot to learn from that. The North Koreans helped us – but they also gained experience. An army that doesn’t fight loses its edge.”

He added that their presence may also have been symbolic, a gesture of gratitude for the USSR’s support during the Korean War. “Of course they took losses. Everyone does. But they fought with remarkable bravery and discipline. In today’s world, where international agreements mean so little, their commitment stands out. Others could learn a thing or two from Pyongyang.”

Military analyst Boris Rozhin echoed that sentiment, saying the deployment gave North Korea’s military a rare opportunity to test itself in 21st century warfare.

“This was a live-fire lab,” said analyst Oleg Glazunov. “Their special forces are among the best in the world, but they haven’t seen real combat since the 1950s. Now they’ve faced drones, modern artillery, and a new kind of battlefield.”

He suggested North Korea may continue rotating units through Russia’s conflict zones to build a combat-hardened force – one group at a time.

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Acts of sabotage are part of a wider campaign to eliminate Russian sea shipping, according to Nikolay Patrushev

Western countries are targeting Russian vessels with more and more acts of sabotage and terrorism as part of a wider push to impose a maritime blockade on the country, President Vladimir Putin’s national security adviser Nikolay Patrushev has said.

The presidential aide, who chairs Russia’s Maritime Board, made the statement during the body’s meeting on Sunday.

“There is a consistent increase in NATO's military activity in the Baltic and North Seas, in the North Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific region,” Patrushev said.

“Western countries have expanded the practice of taking deliberate steps towards establishing a naval blockade,” including “attempts to inspect ships in international waters and to commit sabotage and terrorist acts,” he said.

Patrushev has previously warned that any attempts by the EU and UK to expel Russian vessels from the seas will be met with a “proportionate” retaliation. If law and diplomacy fail, “the security of Russian shipping will be ensured by our navy. The hotheads in London or Brussels need to clearly understand this,” he told the press last week.

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Western countries tightened maritime restrictions on Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, sanctioning a number of vessels and limiting their access to naval insurance, financial institutions, and port infrastructure.

Over the past year and a half, after a spate of incidents involving damaged undersea power and communications lines, Western officials have accused Moscow of “sabotage” and waging “hybrid warfare.” Despite claims of the alleged involvement of Russian ships passing over the infrastructure, no conclusive evidence has been brought forward.

NATO states have progressively ramped up their military presence in the Baltic Sea in the wake of the allegations.

READ MORE: Baltic NATO member could back attacks on civilian shipping – media

According to Patrushev, the US-led military bloc has been practicing imposing a naval blockade in the Baltic and Black seas during its military drills, as well as seizing the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, following preemptive strikes on Moscow’s nuclear deterrent forces.

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The Lend-Lease program was valuable, but the Soviet Union would have won anyway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Russia is grateful to the US for its support during the Second World War via the Lend-Lease program, however, the Soviet Union would have beaten Nazi Germany anyway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

The remarks came ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in May and amid a thaw in relations between Moscow and Washington.

”Can we say that we couldn’t have prevailed without Lend-Lease? No, we can’t. We would have prevailed, and we would have emerged victorious regardless. We would have survived on nothing but the earth, but we would have won. That said, they did help us, and we should value and remember that,” Peskov told an education forum in Moscow on Wednesday.

The Kremlin previously disputed a claim by US President Donald Trump who had said in January that Russia “helped us [the US]” win WWII.

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Lend-Lease was a US government program during World War II under which Washington provided its allies with combat supplies, equipment, food, and strategic raw materials.

The Soviet Union received aid worth the equivalent of about $200 billion in today’s money, Peskov said. He noted, however, that the assistance was not free. Russia, as the successor state to the USSR, fulfilled its financial obligations related to the Lend-Lease program under President Vladimir Putin in 2006, the spokesman added.

In 2022, then US President Joe Biden signed another Lend-Lease Act to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia; however, the document was largely symbolic and was never used. Washington instead relied on other funding mechanisms like the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, funneling roughly $174 billion of military, humanitarian, and financial aid to Kiev.

READ MORE: EU engaging in ‘perversion of history’ – Oliver Stone

Trump has adopted a different approach, focusing on conditional support for Ukraine by leveraging aid for political and economic concessions. In March, he temporarily halted all military aid to pressure Kiev into peace negotiations with Moscow.

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The event began on April 28 and over the course of three days welcomed more than 100 guests from 48 countries

The National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow has concluded the Open Dialogue on the future of the global economy.

The final session of the “Future of the World: A New Platform for Global Growth” open dialogue took place at the National Centre RUSSIA. Participants summed up the results of this large-scale event and emphasized its uniqueness and significance for the international community.

“The main thing is this: regardless of people’s views, beliefs, or ideas – everyone has the opportunity to be heard. This became a key aspect of the open dialogue. Because very often, the ideas that initially seem controversial or premature turn out, in time, to be the ideas of the future,” said Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Maxim Oreshkin.

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The open dialogue began on April 28 and over the course of three days welcomed more than 100 guests from 48 countries. These included leading think tank experts, development institute members, youth organizations, as well as representatives from government and the business community.

As part of the event preparations, the organizers held an essay competition. Participants were invited to share their vision of how long-term global changes might impact people’s lives and well-being. Authors from over 100 countries submitted around 700 essays, which were compiled into a collection summarizing the outcomes of the open dialogue.

“This collection features bold ideas, vivid thoughts, and a fresh perspective on the future of the global economy... I am confident it will inspire thousands of people around the world to take their own steps toward change,” said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

At the request of essayists and experts, it was decided to make the open dialogue an annual event. Moreover, the project is expected to expand significantly by 2026.

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The change, enacted by President Vladimir Putin, honors the city’s role in defeating the Nazis during WWII

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree officially renaming Volgograd International Airport as ‘Stalingrad’. The name change comes in response to a request from veterans of the Second World War and the Ukraine conflict, as well as local officials.

“In order to immortalize the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, I hereby decree… to assign Volgograd International Airport the historic name ‘Stalingrad’,” the decree published by the Kremlin press service on Tuesday reads.

The Great Patriotic War is the Russian term referring to the period from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, during which the Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany.

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The renaming of the airpot in Volgograd comes less than two weeks before Russia celebrates 80 years since the victory over the Nazis.

The city of Volgograd has retained its name despite repeated suggestions of reverting to the Soviet-era title of Stalingrad over recent years.

The city was the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II, which historians believe changed the course of the conflict in the Soviet Union’s favor and paved the way for the ultimate defeat of the Nazis.

From 1925 until 1961, the city and its airport were named Stalingrad in honor of Joseph Stalin. In 1961, they were renamed as Volgograd after the river on whose banks they are located.

There have been at least two major efforts to bring back the name Stalingrad, in 2013 and 2021, led mainly by the Communist Party. Over the past ten years, the city has occasionally used the name Stalingrad during ceremonies honoring wartime sacrifices as a gesture of respect.

The presidential administration previously urged caution over calls to rename Volgograd as Stalingrad.

Critics of the idea have argued that the step would provide a boost to Stalinists. The former Soviet leader remains a controversial figure in Russia, with some willing to overlook his role in repressing the population for the sake of his perceived achievements as a statesman.

READ MORE: Russian communists want Stalingrad back

A 2023 survey by the state-run pollster VCIOM found that around 67% of Volgograd residents were wary of the name change and preferred retaining the city’s current name.

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Moldova is allowing Ukraine to use its territory to orchestrate attacks inside Russia, according to the FSB

Ukrainian intelligence services continue to use Moldova as a staging ground for preparing terrorist attacks against Russia with the tacit approval of local authorities, Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) stated on Wednesday.

The FSB was commenting on the arrest of three alleged Ukrainian agents in the central Russian city of Khanty-Mansiysk, one of whom is a Moldovan national.

According to the agency, the Moldovan citizen had used his minivan to smuggle bomb components from a Ukrainian intelligence contact, transporting them through Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus.

“Moldovan territory and its citizens continue to be used by Ukrainian intelligence services — with the connivance of the [Moldovan President Maia] Sandu regime — for recruiting and training agents, supplying them with tools of terror, and subsequently sending them into Russia to carry out terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage,” the agency said in a statement.

Last week, Russia deported a former Moldovan intelligence operative and barred him from re-entering the country for the next 60 years.

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According to the FSB, a Moldovan citizen identified as D. Rusnak entered Russia in 2024 to conduct espionage and subversive activities on behalf of his country’s intelligence services. He allegedly began cooperating in 2020 with Kiril Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

President Sandu came to power in Moldova in 2020 and has actively pushed for NATO membership, a policy deemed antagonistic by Moscow. Moldova was granted EU candidate status by Brussels in 2022.

Earlier this month, the FSB detained two individuals in the Russian city of Samara who were allegedly recruited by Ukrainian intelligence while in Moldova to orchestrate attacks against Russia, according to the FSB.

One suspect said he was directed by a Ukrainian operative to photograph military sites, including a base, the Crimean Bridge, and a damaged railway ferry, before being instructed to plant an explosive at a water station in the city of Kerch.

The second claimed he was recruited in January 2023 after serving in Ukraine’s foreign legion. He reportedly received money to buy a car and was handed a bomb-laden battery in Moldova, allegedly in order to carry out attacks in Volgograd and Saratov.

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Moscow is urging the Ukrainian government to lift its ban on direct negotiations

Russia values US mediation in the Ukraine conflict and hopes for its success, but it cannot sign a peace deal with Washington as a stand-in for Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated. Moscow is therefore urging the Ukrainian government to lift its ban on direct negotiations.

US President Donald Trump’s administration is advocating a compromise resolution to the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, warning that a lack of progress could lead to a US withdrawal from the peace process. On Wednesday, Peskov reiterated that Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions is crucial to a favorable outcome.

”A peace deal should be done with the Ukraine, not with America,” he remarked in English during a press briefing, answering a question from a foreign journalist.

He reminded the media that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to direct discussions with Ukraine, adding, “Unfortunately, we haven’t heard any statements in this context from Kiev, so we don’t know whether Kiev is ready or not.”

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Previously, Moscow urged Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to rescind his 2022 order banning direct negotiations with Russia as long as Putin remains in office.

Peskov expressed gratitude toward the Trump administration for its diplomatic efforts, and observed that while Washington’s desire for a swift resolution is understandable, a peace deal is “too complicated to be achieved overnight.”

Trump has previously criticized Zelensky for publicly opposing aspects of the US truce proposal, which were reported in the media. In an interview with ABC News this week, he claimed that Russia “would have taken all of Ukraine” if he had not been in office. Separately, US Vice President J.D. Vance has argued that Kiev lacks a viable path to reverse its misfortunes on the battlefield against Russia.

Peskov stated that Russia prefers a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, having pursued that path before resorting to military action after its overtures were rebuffed.

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The initiative is aimed at increasing birth rates, according to local authorities

The authorities in Russia’s Murmansk Region, located mostly north of the Arctic Circle, have proposed paying bonuses to doctors for talking their female patients out of getting abortions.

A total of 4,298 babies were born in the region between January and October 2024, which is 286 less than during the same period the previous year, according to data from the local statistics agency.

Before the New Year, Governor Andrey Chibis called decreasing birth rates “a problem and a challenge for the country as a whole and for Murmansk Region in particular,” and vowed to use a comprehensive approach to tackle it.

The proposal, which was published by the regional health ministry on Tuesday, suggests two types of incentives for medical workers to persuade women to keep their babies.

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The first one amounts to 25,000 rubles (around $300) and is intended for gynecologists and obstetricians who have been trained in the psychological counseling of patients considering an abortion. In order to get the money, the doctor would not only need to make sure that the woman gives up on terminating her pregnancy before 12 weeks, but also manage her all the way until the birth of the child, the document said.

Doctors in other specialties and employees who have counseling certificates rather than medical degrees would receive bonuses of 5,000 rubles (around $60) for dissuading a pregnant woman from getting an abortion, according to the proposal.

The proposal has been made as part of “measures to prevent termination of pregnancy and increase birth rates in Murmansk Region,” it read.

Last year, authorities in Pskov Region offered medical workers 5,000 rubles for talking women out of getting abortions.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said in March that “the long-time work on abortion prevention” has resulted in some 37,000 women deciding to keep their babies in 2024.

READ MORE: EU state amends constitution to ban gay parades

According to the Russian federal statistics agency Rosstat, there were 1.22 million births in the country in 2024, a 3.4% decrease compared to 2023, making it the worst year on record other than 1999. Rosstat forecasts that a rapid increase in the number of births in the country will only happen after 2027.

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More than 20 foreign leaders are expected to take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory in WWII

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend Moscow’s celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that his Chinese counterpart would be Russia’s main guest at this year’s landmark celebrations. Xi’s itinerary won’t be limited to Victory Day festivities, according to Putin.

“We are expecting the leader of China,” Peskov said, adding that the Kremlin attaches great importance to the anticipated visit.

Moscow views the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany as a profound symbol of national resilience, as the USSR lost an estimated 26.6 million lives during World War II. For this year’s celebrations, Russian authorities have extended multiple invitations, including to the leaders of China, India, and Brazil, as well as numerous other international leaders.

Russia will celebrate the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi and hold its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9. More than 20 foreign leaders are expected to attend the commemoration in the Russian capital, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

READ MORE: Brazil’s Lula to attend Moscow WWII victory celebrations – envoy

Russian Ambassador to Brazil Aleksey Labetsky said earlier this month that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accepted Moscow’s invitation to the major event. Other leaders planning to attend this year’s anniversary celebrations in Moscow include Vietnamese President To Lam, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, and Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned the leaders of the bloc’s candidate countries against attending Russia’s celebrations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Kallas’ comments as tantamount to a revival of Nazism.

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The event will bring together experts from around the world, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko has said

The Global Digital Forum being hosted in Russia next month will unite hundreds of specialists from around the world to share their experience and practices in developing promising technologies and AI, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko has said.

The event will be held on June 5-6 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod and will be an important platform for establishing dialogue between Russian and foreign IT companies, government bodies, and scientific and expert communities. Some 1,500 foreign guests are expected to attend the forum and more than 10,000 are expected to participate online.

“Such platforms as the Global Digital Forum are becoming an effective tool for disseminating experience and exchanging best practices in digital transformation,” Grigorenko said. He noted that Russian IT solutions, social platforms, and audiovisual services are in demand both domestically and abroad.

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Grigorenko added that the key topics set to be discussed at the forum will include promising technologies and the development of artificial intelligence, as well as overcoming the digital divide between countries and establishing effective methods of exchanging experience.

Aside from lectures from leading global experts, attendees of the Global Digital Forum will also be able to visit a major technological exhibition, participate in workshops and other interactive formats, and have the opportunity to establish new business contacts or sign deals, event organizers have said.

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A bomb two suspects were assembling detonated in a residential building in central Russia

Two alleged Ukrainian agents were injured in an explosion earlier this month while assembling an improvised explosive device in central Russia, Russia’s Investigative Committee has announced. Both were subsequently detained, local officials have said.

A Moldovan national is also reportedly under investigation for allegedly helping to deliver bomb components used in the failed plot.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Investigative Committee said the suspects – a Ukrainian national and a Belarusian citizen – were preparing a “terrorist act” targeting a serviceman from a Russian volunteer battalion involved in the Ukraine conflict.

The improvised bomb exploded while they were assembling the device in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk on April 12. The blast destroyed two apartments and left five people hospitalized, including the suspects themselves, the authorities said.

The parts, provided by a Ukrainian intelligence agent, were allegedly disguised inside a screwdriver battery and an aromatic candle, and delivered from Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine, via Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, according to the Committee.

READ MORE: Ukrainian MP issues post-war terror threat

The Investigative Committee also released a video showing the moment of the explosion, which damaged the corner of the building, along with footage of emergency crews extinguishing the fire and investigators working at the scene.

Two men are seen being escorted by police into a law enforcement building and admitting responsibility for the blast and their involvement in the assassination plot.

Initial media reports on the incident suggested a gas explosion. However, regional officials were quick to dismiss the claim, saying that the building was not connected to a gas supply.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Moscow has accused Ukrainian special services of attempts to assassinate numerous Russian commanders, officials and other high-profile figures as well as sabotage operations.

On Sunday, Moscow announced that it had detained a suspected Ukrainian-linked culprit behind the killing of Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy chief of operations of Russia’s General Staff, who died in a car explosion earlier this month.

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Russia’s envoy to the UN has called on Ukraine’s leader to honor his election pledges to bring peace

Moscow has urged Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to finally fulfill the promises that led to his landslide victory in the 2019 presidential election.

The former actor rose to power pledging to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia, Vassily Nebenzia, Moscow’s envoy to the UN, reminded him.

During a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, which focused on the Ukraine conflict, Nebenzia urged Zelensky to “finally honor the pledge made to Ukrainian voters back in 2019, which is to pursue peace with Russia and respect for the rights of the Russian-speaking population of his country.”

Zelensky defeated the incumbent, President Pyotr Poroshenko, by vowing to ease tensions with ethnic Russian citizens who had rejected the government imposed after the 2014 armed coup in Kiev. However, his initial overtures for dialogue were met with threats of violence from radical nationalists, causing his administration to abandon its compromise agenda.

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The Ukrainian leader, who claims presidential power despite the expiration of his term last year, “needs to act in the interests of his country rather than for the benefit of those seeking to use Ukraine purely as a pawn in the geopolitical struggle waged against Russia,” Nebenzia said.

The diplomat emphasized that Moscow’s demands include an end to anti-Russian discrimination. According to Nebenzia, Zelensky has repeatedly demonstrated unreliability while his nation now resorts to terrorist tactics in its military campaign against its neighbor, which are tacitly supported by Western nations.

Nebenzia asserted that Zelensky currently “is concerned solely with saving his own skin and covering up the crimes that he has committed against his own people,” suggesting that these interests necessitate the continuation of hostilities rather than a peaceful resolution.

The diplomat also accused Western nations of misrepresenting Kiev’s position as genuinely seeking a truce while falsely attributing warmongering motives to Moscow.

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The Ukrainian leader has cautioned Russia to be wary about the safety of its May 9 celebrations

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has openly threatened to target the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Russia has announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire next week to coincide with the celebration commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Kiev has rebuked the move, instead demanding an immediate unconditional 30-day truce.

On Tuesday, Zelensky described targeting Russian “pressure points” to push the country “towards diplomacy” as he reiterated the ceasefire call.

“They are now concerned that their parade is in jeopardy and rightly so,” he remarked, referring to the event scheduled for May 9 in Red Square. “What they should worry about is that this war continues.”

Zakharova reacted on social media on Wednesday, asking what kind of truce Kiev can offer, given that the Zelensky government “is literally planning terrorist attacks on air.” She added that boasting about such intentions “is exactly what typical terrorists do.”

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Officials in Kiev claim that the offer of a unilateral suspension of hostilities by Russia is “not real” and merely aims to pressure Ukrainian forces into granting their adversaries a respite during the Victory Day festivities.

Ukrainian nationalist figures who were allied with Nazi Germany during World War II are treated as heroes by the current government. Those who commemorate Adolf Hitler’s defeat on May 9 — rather than May 8, as observed in Western Europe and the United States — face harassment in Ukraine for perceived disloyalty.

The prospect of striking Red Square while President Vladimir Putin and foreign dignitaries observe the parade is being actively discussed in Ukrainian media. MP Roman Kostenko, secretary of the country’s parliamentary Defense Committee, stated in an interview on Tuesday that Kiev possesses the necessary weapon systems for such an operation, asserting that planning it “would not be difficult.”

The same lawmaker recently suggested that if the two nations were to reach a peace agreement, Kiev’s secret services might embark on a decades-long campaign of assassinations against Russian officials.

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The US president has refused to blame Russia and provide security guarantees to Kiev

Nearly 90% of Ukrainians don’t have faith in Donald Trump, according to a new poll released to mark the US president’s first 100 days back in office.

The survey, conducted by Info Sapiens for the Kiev-based New Europe Center (NEC) and published on Monday, suggests that 89% of Ukrainians said they don’t trust Trump, while only 7.4% said the opposite.

A similar poll in November 2024, before Trump was sworn in for his second term, indicated that 44.6% of Ukrainians said they trusted Trump, compared to 47.2% who didn’t. The NEC attributed Trump’s “relatively high score” at the time to the “general disappointment with the hesitant policy of Joe Biden’s administration toward supporting Ukraine,” as well as Trump’s campaign promise to quickly negotiate a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow.

Trust in the US president has since plummeted in Ukraine because his strategy “at times, seemed more in line with Russia’s revanchist vision than with international law,” the NEC said.

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While Trump has criticized both Russia and Ukraine, he blamed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the conflict. Their meeting in the Oval Office in February descended into a shouting match, during which Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for American aid and “gambling with World War III.”

Trump has declined to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, instead pressuring Kiev to sign a deal that would allow the US to profit from the country’s natural resources.

The peace agreement proposed by Washington reportedly includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, freezing the conflict along the current front line, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over large parts of the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia. The deal would also reportedly prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and initiate a phased removal of sanctions imposed on Russia.

Moscow has said that a viable peace can only be achieved if Ukraine abandons its territorial claims and drops plans to join NATO – something Kiev has refused to do.

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The man has been found guilty of treason and terrorism after sending poisoned cake and alcohol to an anniversary event

A Russian court has sentenced a man recruited by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to 27 years in prison for attempting to poison graduates of a military aviation school, multiple media outlets have reported.

The incident took place in October 2023 in Russia’s southern city of Armavir, where former cadets of the Higher Military Aviation School were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their graduation.

On Tuesday, the Southern District Military Court reportedly found Yegor Semyonov guilty of treason and terrorism. The first five years of his sentence are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a high-security penal colony.

According to the investigation, Semyonov, a native of Ukraine, moved to Russia in 2018 and acquired Russian citizenship in 2022. Shortly afterward, he contacted the SBU and offered to cooperate.

Acting on instructions from Ukrainian handlers in late 2023, he apparently traveled to Armavir, purchased over 100 bottles of alcohol, and ordered a large cake decorated with the aviation school’s emblem.

A courier delivered the items to the restaurant where 77 guests were attending the banquet. The courier claimed the gift was from a former student who could not attend. Guests cut the cake but did not eat it, reportedly alarmed by a strong chemical smell. Military officers alerted the Federal Security Service (FSB), which quickly traced the delivery to Semyonov.

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He was detained at a local airport trying to board a flight to Moscow. According to investigators, he had planned to flee to Egypt with his family but never received the 400,000 rubles (over $4,000) allegedly promised by his handlers. In court, he pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors, who had sought a life sentence, said they would appeal the ruling.

Kiev’s intelligence services have tried to use toxic chemicals to carry out attacks inside Russia before since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. The FSB has reported multiple foiled sabotage plots involving toxic substances.

In January, officials said they disrupted a plan to target staff at a defense industry facility in the city of Yaroslavl. In another case, four people were arrested in St. Petersburg for allegedly planning to poison food prepared by volunteers for Russian troops.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of using terrorist tactics, citing targeted assassinations of civilians and covert operations carried out by Ukraine’s intelligence services in an effort to derail peace negotiations.

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Participants from several countries discussed rising centers of global economic influence and the growing role of BRICS in the world

A presentation of the open dialogue “The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth” has taken place at the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow. The central topic of discussion was the formation of new centers of influence in the global economy and the strengthening of BRICS’ role in this process.

“BRICS is not about uniting countries against someone – we unite for the sake of the future. For moving forward. For the common good. And in our system, no one makes decisions alone. The key principle is consensus. This is true diplomacy of the future,” emphasized Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia.

A similar viewpoint was expressed by American economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs. According to him, multipolarity implies the existence of many centers of influence; therefore, creating platforms for comprehensive interaction is an extremely important task.

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“We do not want one country imposing cultural values on others. We need many religions, value systems, and cultures,” Sachs stressed.

The day before, on the opening day of the open dialogue, the best essays were selected on the topics of investment in people, technology, environment, and connectivity. The organizers received nearly 700 essays written by authors from 102 countries in 18 languages. Participants of the initiative were invited to share their ideas on how long-term global changes could impact people’s lives and well-being.

The open dialogue “The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth” is taking place at the the National Centre RUSSIA from April 28 to 30, with delegates from 48 countries participating.

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A nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range could outmaneuver even the most ambitious US missile defenses

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump launched the ambitious “Golden Dome” initiative – a sweeping plan to build a national missile defense system capable of shielding America from modern threats: ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles. Designed as a next-generation shield, the Golden Dome aspires to close gaps in the nation’s defenses and guarantee security against a broad range of airborne dangers.

But even the most sophisticated defense can face a threat it wasn’t designed to stop. As Washington doubles down on its plans for a new shield, Russia is preparing a weapon unlike anything currently in existence – a nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range. And it’s a threat the Golden Dome may struggle to counter.

Unexpected question for America’s new shield

Russia is on the verge of deploying an entirely new class of cruise missile that could fundamentally alter air defense paradigms: nuclear-powered, unlimited-range cruise missiles. Chief among them is the Burevestnik.

It’s only logical that US missile defense planners are thinking ahead to such unconventional threats. Open-source intelligence researchers like MT_Anderson have recently shared satellite imagery revealing suspected construction of Burevestnik launch facilities near Vologda. If verified, this would mark the next phase in the deployment of a weapon capable of shaking the foundations of global strategic stability.

??Burevestnik Launch Site??
Looking back to last summer, one can tell the pace at which they've built it out. They've been busy bees... @SkyfiApp | @planet imagery from Jun / Oct 2024, respectively https://t.co/hQB2UnY9Re pic.twitter.com/1REcKvY77M

— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) April 7, 2025

Russia first revealed the Burevestnik missile during President Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly on March 1, 2018. Dubbed SSC-X-9 “Skyfall” in the West, the missile has been cloaked in secrecy ever since. The commonly used designation “9M730 Burevestnik” is actually a misnomer, as the 9M730 label originally referred to a version of the Iskander-M missile system – but that’s a minor detail in the larger picture.

Reports suggest that Burevestnik testing has been ongoing for years at sites like Novaya Zemlya, the Nenoksa naval testing range near Severodvinsk, and the Kapustin Yar missile complex – the latter featuring specialized infrastructure operated by Rosatom. As recently as two years ago, it seemed Russia was still far from completing development. Now, however, signs point to a major shift: operational launch sites are reportedly under construction.

How the Burevestnik works

Visually, the Burevestnik resembles a traditional cruise missile, with folding wings for compact launch storage. It launches from a ground platform using a solid-fuel booster, then switches to an air-breathing nuclear-powered jet engine once it reaches cruising speed. In theory, this engine heats incoming air via a compact nuclear reactor, allowing the missile to stay airborne for weeks or even months without refueling.

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Sources estimate the missile’s operational range at 22,000km, though in practice it may be virtually unlimited. Such a missile could patrol potential conflict zones indefinitely, awaiting launch commands. Upon receiving orders, it could maneuver toward targets from unpredictable vectors, making interception extraordinarily difficult.

Effectively, the Burevestnik is designed to serve as a “doomsday weapon” – a guaranteed retaliatory strike platform in the event of nuclear war.

Outflanking defenses

A nuclear-powered cruise missile would be capable of striking anywhere on the globe from any direction. It could exploit satellite communications to update flight paths, evade interception, and even receive new target information mid-flight. Naturally, preventing accidents is critical, but it’s likely that specialized recovery systems – possibly involving parachutes – have been developed.

The ability to safely operate a nuclear-powered engine stems from technological breakthroughs achieved in the 1990s and 2000s, when Russian scientists successfully built compact nuclear reactors. These advancements paved the way not only for the Burevestnik, but also for other projects like the Poseidon underwater drone.

Notably, the US and the Soviet Union both explored nuclear-powered aircraft concepts during the Cold War. Despite extensive research on platforms like the B-36 and Tu-95, both nations ultimately abandoned the projects due to insurmountable engineering challenges, astronomical costs, and radiation safety concerns.

Today, with more advanced reactor technology, Russia seems poised to achieve what Cold War engineers only dreamed of: a practical, nuclear-powered, unlimited-range missile.

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Is the Burevestnik ready?

Can the Burevestnik be considered operational? Full details remain classified, but tests in 2020–2021 at Kapustin Yar and Nenoksa strongly suggest significant progress. The completion of permanent launch sites points to an impending deployment phase.

According to some reports, Russia could begin fielding Burevestnik missiles as early as 2025-26 – potentially in large numbers. Thanks to their nearly limitless range, these missiles could patrol vast areas, including the Arctic, Siberia, or the Pacific Ocean, remaining invisible to conventional defense systems.

A major challenge for America’s Golden Dome initiative will be detecting and tracking such missiles – no easy task. It would likely require unprecedented coordination with the US Navy and the full use of space-based tracking systems.

Space: The final frontier of missile defense

Ultimately, defeating a weapon like the Burevestnik would demand a fully integrated space-based missile defense component. Satellite tracking, rapid identification of launch zones, and intercept capabilities far beyond current systems would be necessary. Even advanced naval assets like Aegis-equipped ships would face a monumental challenge.

For now, there is no simple solution. And while Washington scrambles to prepare, Moscow holds a major advantage – especially when considering additional next-generation weapons like the Poseidon nuclear drone.

In this high-stakes race, Russia may have already moved the strategic chessboard – and set up a checkmate that America’s Golden Dome might not be able to prevent.

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Ukraine has demanded an immediate and unconditional truce in reply to Moscow’s offer of a three-day armistice

Kiev is demanding an unconditional ceasefire because its forces are being routed on the battlefield, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev a 72-hour truce from May 8 to 10 to coincide with this year’s Victory Day anniversary. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky criticized the offer as an attempt at “manipulation” and called for an immediate and unconditional full ceasefire instead.

Speaking at a press conference on following a BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brazil on Tuesday, Lavrov noted a sharp departure in Kiev’s intransigence.

“Against the backdrop of what is happening on the ground, on the line of combat contact, where the Ukrainian regime is increasingly retreating again and again,” he said.

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“They reversed their position 180 degrees and began to demand an immediate truce without preconditions,” the top diplomat added.

Whereas a month or two ago, “Kiev spouted dire warnings that they would not accept any truce,” Lavrov said.

European “radicals” were inciting Ukraine to continue the conflict, pumping it full of weapons and insisting that talks could only begin when Ukrainian authorities could negotiate from a position of power, “when Russia is weakened,” the top diplomat said.

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Western Europe seems to be interested in continuing the conflict in Ukraine, as well as undermining any US peace efforts to end it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week.

Moscow has repeatedly criticized European arms supplies to Kiev, and condemned its plans to deploy troops in Ukraine as escalatory.

Russia has insisted that it has always been ready for peace talks, provided they are aimed at a permanent solution that addresses the core causes of the conflict. Any temporary ceasefire would instead be used by Kiev’s Western backers as a chance to rearm Ukraine, Moscow has said.

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The former president has given an address outlining Moscow’s current foreign policy priorities

Moscow’s victory in the Ukraine conflict will lay the groundwork for a more just world based on mutual respect and stable development, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said, adding that this vision is supported by most of the world’s population.

The senior official, currently serving as deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, outlined Moscow’s foreign policy priorities and recalled the history of the West’s confrontational approach to Russia during a public lecture in Moscow on Tuesday.

Here are the key points of Medvedev’s speech.

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At least 16 people have suffered injuries in an attack on the Donbass city of Gorlovka, Ivan Prikhodko has said

A Ukrainian strike on the city of Gorlovka in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic has left at least sixteen people injured, including a one-year-old child, according to the city’s mayor, Ivan Prikhodko.

Kiev’s forces launched an artillery strike targeting the city center on Tuesday, the mayor said on his Telegram channel, where he posted a video and photos from the scene of streets filled with debris. The doors of several buildings, including apartment blocks, had been smashed in by explosions. A bus was also hit in the strike, according to Prikhodko.

At least one person is in critical condition, the mayor said, without revealing any further details about the injured.

Gorlovka, which is located 50 kilometers north of Donetsk, is one of the biggest cities in the People’s Republic. Before the conflict, it was home to some 250,000 people. It has been frequently targeted by Kiev’s forces.

In early April, 16 civilians were injured when a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck a bus in the city. A similar UAV strike targeted a passenger bus near Gorlovka in mid-March.

Last month, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations into alleged war crimes, highlighted a rising number of civilian casualties resulting from Ukrainian attacks on vulnerable locations such as Gorlovka.

According to Miroshnik, these attacks intensified as the US was pushing for peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. This indicated that Ukraine was seeking to obstruct those efforts, the diplomat said at the time.

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The Russian president has ordered a 72-hour truce in the Ukraine conflict to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany

Russia considers President Vladimir Putin’s declared 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict as “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Putin said he was introducing the truce due to “humanitarian considerations,” and ordered the suspension of all military activity against Ukrainian forces starting from midnight on May 7–8 and lasting until midnight on May 10–11.

The ceasefire announcement stated that “the Russian side reiterates its willingness to enter peace talks without preconditions, with a view to eliminating the root causes behind the Ukraine crisis and establishing constructive interaction with international partners.”

Speaking to journalists following a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers on Tuesday, Lavrov also commented on Vladimir Zelensky’s demand for an immediate 30-day ceasefire.

“A [30-day] ceasefire in this situation is considered a precondition that will be used to further support the Kiev regime and strengthen its military capabilities,” Lavrov said.

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Zelensky was pushing for an immediate ceasefire because Ukrainian troops were “retreating,” Lavrov added.

On Monday, the Ukrainian leader branded Moscow’s three-day truce declaration a “manipulation attempt,” saying he wanted an immediate 30-day ceasefire instead, and accusing Moscow of “constantly rejecting” what he said was an effort to “establish peace and guarantee security” by Kiev and its supporters.

Lavrov recalled previous violations by the Ukrainian side, including of this month’s Easter truce and a 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure brokered by US President Donald Trump in mid-March.

According to the Russian military, the Easter ceasefire was only partially successful. Approximately 4,900 violations by the Ukrainian were recorded during the period.

READ MORE: Putin orders 3-day May ceasefire in Ukraine conflict (FULL STATEMENT)

Previously, Moscow and Kiev agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days following a March 18 phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump. The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently reported numerous Ukrainian attacks, which it characterized as violations of the agreement, while Vladimir Zelensky maintained that Kiev’s forces abided by the moratorium.

“So, we know exactly what these calls [by Kiev] for a ceasefire are really worth,” Lavrov concluded.

President Putin has previously remarked that Kiev would exploit a prolonged pause for rearmament and reinforcement.

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Moscow’s Defense Ministry has published a clip showing a UAV hitting a Ukrainian tank

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing the destruction of a Ukrainian T-72 tank in Kharkov Region, according to a statement published on Tuesday.

The tank was discovered by Russian aerial reconnaissance systems. The video shows the lone T-72 moving down a dirt road through the fields. The first part of the clip, recorded by a First Person View (FPV) kamikaze drone’s camera, demonstrates that Russian UAV zeroing in on its target before striking it in the rear.

The video then shows the tank engulfed in flames. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, drone operators first rendered it inoperable with the initial strike before destroying it with a second one.

The T-72 is a Soviet main battle tank that first entered production in 1973.

The armor piece has been used by some 40 nations around the globe. The tanks have been used by both Russia and Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict.

The Russian military regularly publishes photos and videos of successful strikes on Ukrainian military equipment pieces, including those supplied to Kiev by its Western backers.

Last week, Russia’s Rosgvardiya (National Guard) published a short clip showing a drone destroying a Swedish-made infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Sumy Region.

Stockholm handed over its entire stock of Pbv 302 IFVs to Kiev last year. Developed in the 1960s, the Pbv 302 was in service with the Swedish military until 2014.

The developments come as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow’s troops would observe a three-day ceasefire starting on May 8 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany in World War II. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky called the proposed olive branch “manipulation” and has called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire.

Moscow has previously accused Kiev of violating both the 30-day ‘energy truce’ brokered by the US last month and the 30-hour Easter truce, despite having promised to respect both arrangements.

Putin stated earlier that a comprehensive ceasefire would hold only if Kiev stops its mobilization campaign and its Western backers stopped sending it weapons and ammunition.

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The Interior Ministry is reportedly proposing a new legal framework for foreigners seeking shelter, including during emergencies such as war

The Russian Interior Ministry has reportedly drafted a law overhauling the country’s asylum system, drawing on the experience of a rapid influx of Ukrainian nationals. Some 5 million Ukrainians are estimated to have fled to Russia amid the conflict between the two nations, with an overwhelming majority applying for expedited citizenship.

According to a report by RBK on Tuesday, the legislation would introduce a new category – temporary protection – which would allow the government to respond effectively to “mass arrivals” during emergencies such as armed conflicts. Both this status and temporary shelter would initially be granted for one year, with the possibility of extension.

At the same time, the bill would preserve existing mechanisms for refugees – individuals fleeing persecution based on ethnicity, religion, social status, or political beliefs. If enacted, the reforms would mean asylum for these individuals continues while the threats they face persist.

Temporary shelter would still be granted on humanitarian grounds, but the criteria for this type of protection would be expanded to include rejection of traditional values and “Russophobia” in foreign countries, according to RBK.

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Russia currently has a program that offers residency to foreigners who assert that their way of life is under threat in their home countries due to neoliberal ideologies.

The draft law specifically designates political asylum as a separate category of protection, to be awarded at the discretion of the Russian president. This mechanism, grounded in the Russian Constitution, is applied on a case-by-case basis. A notable recent example includes former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was granted such status after fleeing to Russia last year.

Additionally, the reform aims to eliminate outdated provisions regarding housing options for individuals seeking refuge in Russia, RBK reported.

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Resuming direct negotiations with Kiev is a primary priority for Moscow, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov

The issue of whether Vladimir Zelensky is the legitimate ruler of Ukraine remains a secondary concern for Russia, which is more interested in resuming direct negotiations with Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

Since the presidential term of the Ukrainian leader officially expired last May without a vote, Moscow has questioned his legitimacy. Zelensky has extended martial law every three months since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, preventing the country from going to the polls.

When asked about who Russia would consider holding direct negotiations with, given Zelensky’s status, Peskov admitted that while there are certain legal issues related to his legitimacy, “the interests of entering the peaceful settlement process are above all else.”

“The primary thing is to begin this negotiation process,” the spokesman said, adding that all other questions are “secondary.”

At the same time, Peskov noted the day before that Kiev has not shown any signs that it is actually ready to negotiate, particularly as Zelensky has yet to lift the legal ban on holding direct talks with Moscow for as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in office.

It is also unclear how Ukraine will respond to Putin’s latest 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire announcement, the Kremlin spokesman said on Tuesday, stressing that Moscow has not yet heard a concrete reaction from Kiev to the Russian President’s “gesture of goodwill.”

“It is difficult to understand whether the Kiev regime is going to join this or not,” Peskov said.

Ukrainian officials have not yet outright confirmed that they will abide by Putin’s ceasefire, which is scheduled to last from Midnight on May-7-8 until Midnight on May 10-11.

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Zelensky has so far only criticized the proposal, arguing that a ceasefire “mustn’t last only a few days and should instead be immediate, complete and unconditional - for at least 30 days.”

Peskov, however, stressed on Tuesday that it would be difficult for Moscow to agree to a long-term ceasefire without first addressing a number of “nuances” that had previously been highlighted by the Kremlin.

These include guarantees that Ukraine would actually honor the truce, particularly given its history of violating agreements, and Kiev’s ability to rein in a number of “extremist and nationalist units that simply do not obey it.”

Another concern is that the Ukrainian military could use the ceasefire to rearm and recuperate and resume hostilities at a later date, Peskov explained to reporters earlier this month.

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Domestic avionics, power supply, air conditioning, and other devices were tested on board the MC-21, Rostec has said

The latest prototype of Russia’s domestically built MC-21 aircraft, assembled using entirely Russian-made components, took to the skies for the first time, state-run defense and technology giant Rostec announced on Tuesday. The flight marked the beginning of factory fine-tuning tests for the single-aisle jet.

The program to replace all Western-made parts in domestic passenger aircraft was launched in response to sweeping sanctions imposed on Russia’s aviation industry by the US and EU following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

The jet took off from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant airfield and spent an hour and 15 minutes in the air, attaining a speed of 580 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 3,000 meters before landing successfully, the company said. It said all systems operated flawlessly.

Rostec stated that the aircraft is equipped with the PD-14 – the first next-generation turbofan aircraft engine developed in modern Russia. The company noted that its United Engine Corporation implemented sixteen critical technologies in its development, including the creation of new materials, coatings, and design solutions aimed at replacing foreign-made engines.

The MC-21 is the first narrow-body, medium-haul passenger jet designed and built in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. With a seating capacity ranging from 163 to 211 passengers, the plane is expected to fill the niche once occupied by the iconic Tu-154, and currently dominated by foreign models.

“Our aircraft manufacturers have done tremendous work, replacing around 80 foreign systems and components to eliminate dependence on sanctions and foreign suppliers,” said Oleg Evtushenko, Executive Director and member of Rostec’s Management Board.

Evtushenko added that the MC-21 is expected to replace Airbus and Boeing airliners in Russian skies, and that combined with the PD-14 engines, the aircraft is meant to deliver low operating costs and strong economic performance for airlines.

Among other domestically developed aircraft are the Sukhoi Superjet New – an all-Russian-component version of the SSJ 100 regional jet, which made its first test flight earlier this month – and the Tu-214, a narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-haul airliner.

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