Last news • War in Ukraine
The US Secretary of State known as the Vatican a "snug" place for negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the Vatican might change into a spot for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He emphasised the constructive place of the Vatican.
A significant prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia involving round 1,000 POWs from either side is anticipated to happen subsequent week, Ukraine's navy intelligence chief stated on air on Might 17, following an settlement reached in Istanbul.
"I hope it’s going to occur subsequent week," Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Army Intelligence, stated. "I don't see any main obstacles to this."
Budanov's remarks got here a day after Protection Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that Russia and Ukraine had reached a deal on the 1,000-for-1,000 alternate throughout talks in Istanbul.
Russia additionally confirmed the settlement, with Vladimir Medinsky, head of Moscow's delegation, telling Russian state media that preparations for the swap have been underway. Deputy Intelligence Chief Vadym Skybytskyi stated each international locations had begun engaged on the ultimate alternate lists.
Prisoner swaps stay one of many few areas of ongoing cooperation between the 2 international locations. The newest alternate occurred on Might 6, when 205 Ukrainian troopers have been returned in a one-for-one format.
Ukraine has lengthy advocated for an "all-for-all" alternate, however Russia has thus far resisted the proposal. Kyiv has not disclosed the overall variety of Ukrainian prisoners of struggle being held in Russian custody.
Ukraine's delegation traveled to Istanbul this week for Russian-initiated peace talks, although President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Moscow for sending what he known as a "sham delegation." Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to attend, as a substitute appointing his aide Medinsky to steer Moscow's staff.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
A lady died and eight folks have been injured in Donetsk area because of Russian assaults
On Could 17, one particular person died and eight have been injured on account of shelling within the Donetsk area. The Russians attacked Yablunivka with a drone, killing a 27-year-old lady and damaging a store.
German International Minister Johann Wadephul has introduced stronger surveillance and extra sanctions concentrating on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" following suspected sabotage of underwater infrastructure within the Baltic Sea, Die Zeit reported on Could 17.
"The menace has intensified over current months," Wadephul stated. "Severed cables, disrupted indicators, and suspicious vessels are of significant concern to us."
Just lately, a collection of incidents concerned severed cables and disrupted indicators within the Baltic Sea area. Whereas U.S. and European intelligence officers have prompt a few of the injury could have been unintended, some senior officers, argue that repeated disruptions can’t be defined by "poor seamanship" alone.
Wadephul stated Germany and its allies are responding to hybrid threats within the Baltic area with elevated patrols and renewed stress on Russia's covert transport operations.
"Russia threatens all of us within the Baltic area," he stated. "We as residents, NATO and the EU are dealing with hybrid threats with all our may, together with additional patrol."
The so-called shadow fleet consists of oil tankers and different cargo ships utilized by Russia to avoid Western sanctions, notably in transporting oil. In current months, suspected acts of sabotage linked to this fleet have drawn consideration to vulnerabilities in undersea cables and pipelines, prompting intensified monitoring of maritime infrastructure.
Calling the fleet a "direct safety menace," Wadephul stated the European Union will impose contemporary sanctions on vessels enabling Russia to bypass restrictions. "This additionally helps Ukraine, as a result of the shadow fleet strikes oil on daily basis that Russia sells across the sanctions," he added.
On Could 14, EU ambassadors agreed on the bloc's seventeenth package deal of sanctions towards Russia, primarily concentrating on its shadow fleet of oil tankers.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the transfer, insisting it could "maintain the stress excessive on the Kremlin."
However exterior the EU bubble, critics see it as one other incremental transfer that fails to match the urgency of the second, and behind closed doorways, even EU officers acknowledge the package deal was watered down throughout negotiations.
The seventeenth EU package deal with Russia sanctions will likely be formally adopted on Could 20 at a gathering of overseas ministers in Brussels.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova
A 19-year-old Ukrainian girl returned house after three years of occupation – Yermak
As a part of the Carry Children Again UA initiative, a 19-year-old lady returned to the territory managed by Ukraine. She had not seen her kinfolk for greater than three years, her hometown was underneath hearth.
Ukraine's Safety Service (SBU) has launched preparatory steps for a large-scale prisoner change with Russia involving 1,000 detainees from all sides, the company introduced on Could 17.
The Joint Coordination Middle for the Search and Launch of Prisoners, working below the SBU, is compiling an inventory of Russian army personnel at present held in Ukrainian custody who could also be handed over to Russia as a part of the swap.
Concurrently, the SBU, along with the Well being Ministry and different related state companies, is making ready to obtain Ukrainian troopers now held by Russian forces. Efforts embody establishing crucial infrastructure, designated places, and medical workers to facilitate the switch, escort, and rehabilitation of returning servicemen.
The deliberate change follows an settlement reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations throughout talks in Istanbul on Could 16, 2025.
Earlier on Could 17, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Army Intelligence, stated he hopes the change will happen subsequent week, expressing optimism concerning the absence of main obstacles.
Whereas Ukraine has pushed for a complete "all-for-all" change, Russia has resisted such proposals. Kyiv has not disclosed the total variety of Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia.
Prisoner swaps stay one of many few ongoing factors of cooperation between the 2 international locations amid persevering with battle.
Ukraine's delegation traveled to Istanbul this week for Russian-initiated peace talks, although President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Moscow for sending what he known as a "sham delegation." Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to attend, as a substitute appointing his aide Vladimir Medinsky to steer Moscow's workforce.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
"There is just one actual indicator": Sybiha stated what precisely will testify to Russia's readiness to finish the struggle
Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha acknowledged that putin's settlement to a whole ceasefire is the one actual indicator of russia's readiness for peace. He referred to as for elevated strain on russia.
A Russian-installed court docket in japanese Ukraine has sentenced Australian nationwide Oscar Jenkins to 13 years in a high-security penal colony, accusing him of preventing as a mercenary in opposition to Russian forces, pro-Kremlin officers mentioned on Might 16.
The so-called Supreme Courtroom of the Russian-controlled Luhansk Oblast discovered Jenkins responsible underneath Russian prison regulation for collaborating in armed battle as a mercenary.
The Kremlin argues that mercenaries should not protected underneath worldwide regulation as prisoners of conflict and are topic to prison prosecution.
The court docket claimed Jenkins arrived in Ukraine in February 2024 from Melbourne and signed a contract with the Ukrainian Protection Ministry at a recruitment heart in Ternopil. He was then allegedly deployed to Donetsk Oblast.
Jenkins, who served within the Ukrainian military's 402nd Separate Rifle Battalion, which is a part of Ukraine's 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, was reported lacking close to Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast on Dec. 16, 2024. Russian forces later confirmed his seize.
In contrast to most different foreigners volunteering to hitch Ukraine's resistance in opposition to Russia, Jenkins has had no navy expertise. The Australian media described the person as "a lot beloved" by his group in Australia, a proficient cricket and soccer participant who studied biomedical sciences earlier than working as a lecturer in China. He’s believed to have traveled to Ukraine in 2024.
The Russian FSB mentioned it had investigated Jenkins' case and accused him of participating in "prison exercise" till his arrest in December. His trial and sentencing have been carried out by authorities not internationally acknowledged and working underneath Moscow's management.
Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong condemned the sentencing, calling it a "sham trial."
"We proceed to carry severe considerations for Mr. Jenkins. We’re working with Ukraine and different companions, together with the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross, to advocate for his welfare and launch," Wong mentioned in an announcement on Might 17.
Wong reiterated Australia's place that Jenkins must be handled in accordance with worldwide humanitarian regulation, and that Russia's refusal to acknowledge him as a prisoner of conflict violates authorized norms.
Australia has been urgent for Jenkins' launch since he was captured. His case drew worldwide consideration after Russian media aired footage in December 2024 purporting to indicate him being interrogated and crushed. Whereas some shops later raised doubts in regards to the authenticity of associated video supplies, Russia ultimately confirmed to Australia that Jenkins was in custody and in "regular" well being.
The Kremlin maintains that foreigners preventing for Ukraine underneath contract are mercenaries, whom it doesn’t think about protected underneath the Geneva Conventions.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
A 7-year-old lady was discovered murdered in occupied Berdyansk: particulars of the tragedy
A 7-year-old lady was discovered murdered close to the "Azovkaбель" plant in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia area. In response to native Telegram channels, the kid could have been raped earlier than dying.
Up to now 24 hours, Russian assaults have killed at the very least 13 folks and injured 32 throughout Ukraine, in response to native athorities.
Russian forces launched a large drone assault throughout Ukraine in a single day, utilizing 62 drones together with Shahed-type assault UAVs and decoy drones from Russia and occupied Crimea, in response to Ukraine’s Air Pressure.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 drones over a number of areas. Six decoy UAVs had been misplaced by digital warfare and didn’t attain their targets.
In Odesa Oblast, Russian drones hit civilian infrastructure in two districts, Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Workplace stated. Three folks had been injured by shrapnel, explosive blasts and burns whereas sheltering of their houses. Personal homes, farm buildings and automobiles had been broken. Prosecutors opened investigations into the strikes as doable warfare crimes.
In Kherson Oblast, an FPV drone struck a rubbish truck round 9 a.m. in Kherson metropolis, injuring three municipal employees. The lads had been hospitalized with blast accidents and concussions, native officers stated.
In Sumy Oblast, a drone strike hit a passenger bus close to the city of Bilopillia, killing 9 folks and injuring seven others. All through the day, Russian forces launched 85 assaults on 31 settlements in 13 communities, native authorities reported. Guided bombs, rockets and drone-dropped grenades broken houses and infrastructure in two communities. Authorities evacuated 69 folks from front-line areas.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, drones struck a number of villages all through the day. No casualties had been reported, although native authorities issued air raid alerts in components of the area.
In Kharkiv Oblast, strikes on 10 communities killed one individual in Kupiansk and injured at the very least 9 folks, governor stated. Russian forces used a mixture of rockets, guided bombs, Shahed drones, Lancet and Molniya drones, and FPV drones. Harm was reported to houses, companies and important infrastructure throughout a number of districts.
In Donetsk Oblast, shelling hit 18 cities and villages, killing three civilians and injuring at the very least 10 others. Native authorities evacuated 181 folks, together with 38 kids, from front-line communities, in response to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova