Last news • War in Ukraine
ISW: Russia is growing the manufacturing of "Shaheds" and growing missile stockpiles, getting ready for an extended warfare towards Ukraine and NATO
Russia is adapting strike methods and growing the manufacturing of drones to organize for an extended warfare in Ukraine. The Kremlin has about 500 ballistic missiles.
4 settlements alongside the border of Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast have come beneath Russian management, regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported on Could 26.
Sumy Oblast, which borders Russia to the north, has been a repeated goal of Russian incursions and shelling for the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The area has not too long ago seen renewed hostilities as Russian forces ramp up exercise alongside the northeastern border.
Russian forces management the border villages of Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka, Hryhorov introduced on Could 26.
"Residents of those villages had been evacuated way back, and there’s no risk to civilians," he mentioned.
The now-occupied villages had been beforehand thought-about a part of the "grey zone," areas with contested or unclear army management.
In accordance with Hryhorov, Russia is continuous makes an attempt to advance in Sumy Oblast "to create a so-called 'buffer zone.'" Combating stays ongoing close to the communities of Vodolahy, Yunakivka, and Khotin.
"The Ukrainian Protection Forces and all parts of the protection forces are preserving the state of affairs beneath management, inflicting precision fireplace on the enemy," Hryhorov mentioned. "Our defenders are resolutely repelling the enemy's assaults and stopping them from advancing deeper into Sumy Oblast."
Lower than per week earlier, Hryhorov introduced that round 56,000 civilians had been evacuated from the area amid escalating Russian aggression. Together with each day assaults, Russia has been deploying assault teams to Sumy Oblast all through spring 2025 in makes an attempt to develop the entrance line.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Could 22 that Moscow is already working to determine a "safety buffer zone" alongside the border with Ukraine, together with close to Sumy Oblast.
Ukrainian intelligence studies present point out that Russia is planning new offensive operations, even because it pays lip service to the peace course of, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Could 26.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
In TOT, the Russians drove schoolchildren to have a good time "Slavic Tradition Day" – CNS
Within the quickly occupied territories, the Russians pressured college students to attend the celebrations with the intention to reinforce the narrative of Russia because the cradle of Slavic peoples.
Russia is "getting ready new offensive operations" in its full-scale warfare in opposition to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Might 26, following an intelligence briefing.
Kyiv has beforehand warned about the specter of a brand new main Russian offensive concentrating on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts this spring and summer time. Whereas Russia has made solely minimal territorial beneficial properties at the price of heavy losses over the past a number of months, Moscow has doubled down on its maximalist aims in current peace talks.
Ukrainian intelligence stories verify that Russia shouldn’t be significantly fascinated with a peace settlement, Zelensky mentioned in his night handle on Might 26.
"We will see from the knowledge that our intelligence is gathering and from open information that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his entourage haven’t any plans to finish the warfare — there is no such thing as a proof that they’re significantly contemplating peace and that they’re significantly contemplating diplomacy," he mentioned.
"Quite the opposite, there’s a whole lot of proof that they’re getting ready new offensive operations."
The intelligence businesses of Ukraine's allies have doubtless seen the identical proof, Zelensky mentioned. He urged associate nations to use "applicable joint stress" on Moscow in response.
The Kyiv IndependentKI Insights
Zelensky's newest remarks come after three nights of relentless Russian aerial assaults in opposition to Ukrainian cities — launched whereas the Kremlin drags its ft in delivering the phrases of its proposed "memorandum" on a doable future peace settlement.
The memorandum was Putin's counteroffer after he once more rejected a ceasefire in a two-hour telephone name with U.S. President Donald Trump on Might 19. Russia has nonetheless not delivered the doc presenting its settlement phrases.
International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned Russia would solely submit the draft "settlement doc" after Ukraine and Russia concluded their 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner alternate. The swap was accomplished on Might 25.
Zelensky referred to as consideration to Russia's delay in submitting the memorandum.
"They’ve spent greater than per week on this," he mentioned. "They discuss loads about diplomacy. However when within the midst of this, there are fixed Russian strikes, fixed killings, fixed assaults, and preparations for brand spanking new offensives, that is positively a prognosis. Russia deserves full-scale stress — all the things that may be accomplished to restrict their army capabilities."
In accordance with Zelensky, Russia launched over 900 strike drones over the past three days, along with cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine is trying to improve its manufacturing of interceptor drones and direct further funding to growing its ballistic missile program, he mentioned.
Officers and specialists instructed the Washington Publish (WP) on Might 24 that Russia doubtless lacks the army functionality to mount an offensive that might efficiently break Ukraine's strains. The decline in Russia's army benefit may make coordinated Western stress on the Kremlin simpler, officers mentioned.
Zelensky urged the U.S. and Europe to enact "new and robust sanctions" in opposition to Moscow to drive Putin to just accept a ceasefire and present "respect" for the diplomatic course of.
Whereas Trump criticized Putin after the newest spherical of large-scale assaults, the U.S. president has a historical past of failing to observe via on threats of sanctions in opposition to Russia.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
Russians launched over 50 strikes on the front-line neighborhood in Zaporizhzhia: first particulars
The occupiers broken homes and infrastructure, utilizing numerous kinds of weapons. Details about the victims is being clarified, the elimination of the implications of the shelling is ongoing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Might 26 known as for punitive motion towards Western firms nonetheless working in Russia, saying they should be "strangled" in response to what he described as Western makes an attempt to suffocate the Russian economic system.
"We must always strangle them. I agree fully. I'm talking with none disgrace, as a result of they're making an attempt to strangle us. We have to reciprocate," Putin stated throughout a gathering with Russian entrepreneurs.
The remarks got here in response to a proposal from one enterprise consultant to "barely" prohibit the work of remaining Western firms, naming Microsoft and Zoom as examples.
The participant claimed, citing unnamed analysts, that Russia's IT business was dropping billions as a result of continued reliance on international companies. Putin took the suggestion additional, urging the federal government to establish these nonetheless utilizing Western software program.
"Give us everybody who can't eliminate these dangerous habits. I'm not kidding, significantly," he stated.
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Following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a whole lot of Western firms exited Russia or suspended operations beneath public stress and authorized sanctions.
In accordance with information from the Kyiv College of Economics, 472 international companies have absolutely withdrawn from Russia, whereas one other 1,360 have scaled again their operations.
In some circumstances, Moscow has straight seized belongings from firms that remained within the nation. The Kremlin's more and more hostile strategy has been considered as retaliation for freezing round $300 billion in Russian sovereign belongings overseas.
Regardless of the rhetoric, Russia continues to discover paths for re-engagement with international companies. In February, Putin instructed his authorities to organize for the eventual return of Western companies.
Nonetheless, no formal requests have been obtained from firms searching for re-entry, based on Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Safety Council and former president.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
Zelensky ordered to extend the manufacturing of interceptor drones and missiles
The President of Ukraine instructed to extend the manufacturing of interceptor drones, attracting extra funding from companions. There can even be separate funding for the Ukrainian ballistic program.
Latvia is asking on all EU member states to droop the issuance of visas to Russian residents, citing rising safety threats from Moscow, International Minister Baiba Braze introduced on Could 25.
Whereas some EU international locations have restricted or halted visa issuance to Russian residents, others have continued processing functions, protecting a authorized pathway open for Russian journey to the bloc.
"Latvia calls on the EU international locations to halt visa issuance for Russian residents, citing safety issues," Braze posted on X. She famous that the variety of Schengen visas issued to Russian nationals elevated by 25% in 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr.
The Schengen visa permits holders to journey freely throughout 29 European international locations for as much as 90 days in any 180-day interval, enabling short-term visits for tourism, enterprise, or household causes.
Latvia imposed entry restrictions on Russian residents in September 2022 as a part of a jointagreement with Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. Czechia carried out comparable restrictions in October 2022.
Considerations over the abuse of Schengen visas and diplomatic privileges have grown amid a wave of suspected Russian sabotage and espionage on EU soil.
On April 15, Polish media outlet Rzeczpospolita reported that Poland and Czechia are main a brand new effort to limit the motion of Russian diplomats throughout the Schengen zone.
The initiative, reportedly first proposed in Prague in late 2023, targets people alleged to be working beneath diplomatic cowl whereas serving Russian navy intelligence (GRU) and different safety providers.
EU intelligence and safety companies have warned of mounting Russian sabotage operations, together with a number of arson assaults believed to have been coordinated by Moscow.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
The final F-16s for Ukraine have left the Netherlands
The Netherlands has handed over all 24 promised F-16 fighters to Ukraine, which have been despatched from the Volkel airbase to Belgium for coaching. They can even proceed to coach pilots and supply spare elements with ammunition.
U.S. President Donald Trump has come to grasp that Russian President Vladimir Putin misled him about being prepared for peace with Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Could 26, in response to the French TV channel BFM.
"I feel President Trump realizes that when President Putin advised him he was prepared for peace, he lied to him," Macron mentioned throughout a go to to Hanoi. "What's taking place in Ukraine is unacceptable and very critical. You’ll be able to't say you're prepared to speak after which bomb."
Russia launched a three-day wave of aerial assaults from Could 24 to Could 26, firing greater than 600 drones and dozens of missiles throughout Ukraine.
Ukraine's Air Power mentioned Russia launched 9 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bombers and a report 355 Shahed-type drones and decoys in a single day on Could 26.
Trump, who has repeatedly pressed for a ceasefire and held a two-hour telephone name with Putin on Could 19, expressed sturdy disapproval of the newest escalation.
"I'm not proud of Putin," he advised reporters on Could 25, including on Fact Social that the Russian president has gone "completely" loopy.
"I've all the time mentioned that he needs all of Ukraine, not only a piece of it, and perhaps that's proving to be proper," Trump wrote. "But when he does, it is going to result in the downfall of Russia!"
Regardless of acknowledging Putin's escalatory habits, Trump additionally criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a strained relationship.
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Zelensky on Could 25 condemned the U.S. for its lack of response to the huge Russian assault, calling for stronger sanctions and saying that "America's silence… solely encourages Putin."
"Likewise, President Zelensky is doing his nation no favors by speaking the way in which he does," Trump posted. "The whole lot out of his mouth causes issues, I don't prefer it, and it higher cease."
Macron mentioned the newest bombardments have been additional proof that Moscow just isn’t negotiating in good religion. "This doublespeak reveals the inauthentic nature of the discussions which will have taken place," he mentioned.
The U.S. president's strategy to negotiations frustrates European allies, a lot of whom sought his assist for a joint U.S.–EU ultimatum demanding an unconditional ceasefire beginning Could 12 and more durable sanctions on Moscow.
In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the decision for punitive actions in opposition to Moscow. U.S. Particular Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg advised Fox Enterprise that the "Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is able to go."
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham mentioned on Could 1 that the laws consists of sweeping monetary penalties and 500% tariffs on nations that proceed shopping for Russian oil, gasoline, or uranium.
Kellogg reacted to Russia's in a single day large-scale assault on Ukraine on Could 25, calling for an finish to hostilities.
"The indiscriminate killing of ladies and kids at night time of their properties is a transparent violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to guard innocents. These assaults are shameful," Kellogg wrote on X with out explicitly naming Russia.
Regardless of Russia's refusal to just accept a ceasefire, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed to this point.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek