Key developments on Might 17-18:

• Russia launches document 273-drone assault on Ukraine forward of deliberate Trump-Putin name
• Trump to speak to Putin on Might 19 in push to finish Ukraine struggle 'massacre'
• Russia plans 'coaching' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile in a single day on Might 19, Ukraine's HUR claims
• New clips from Putin documentary recommend Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks in the past
• Ukraine's forty seventh Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams army management over 'silly targets'

Russia carried out its largest single drone attack for the reason that begin of its full-scale invasion, launching 273 drones in a single day on Might 18, Ukraine's Air Power reported.

The assault comes simply two days after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks since 2022, and at some point forward of a planned call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that the assault killed one particular person and injured three others. Precise casualties from the assault are nonetheless being clarified, he mentioned.

Kyiv Impartial journalists within the capital heard a number of explosions all through the night time as air defenses labored within the metropolis.

The Air Force mentioned it intercepted 88 drones, whereas 128 others vanished from radars, seemingly used as decoys to overwhelm air defenses. The air protection concerned the coordinated use of digital warfare items, cellular hearth groups, and anti-aircraft programs.

The earlier largest drone attack of the full-scale invasion occurred on Feb. 23, when 267 drones entered Ukrainian airspace, Air Power spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat mentioned on the time.

Regardless of growing worldwide stress for an unconditional ceasefire, Moscow has intensified its assaults, displaying ongoing resistance to and disdain for diplomatic efforts.

How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about itEditor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bringThe Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Trump to speak to Putin on Might 19 in push to finish Ukraine struggle 'massacre'

U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned he can be talking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Might 19, at 10 a.m.

Trump's feedback come as peace talks in Istanbul on Might 16 ended with no breakthrough, and Russia as soon as once more issued sweeping demands, together with Ukraine’s adoption of impartial standing, dropping claims for struggle reparations from Moscow and the popularity of its lack of Crimea and 4 occupied areas — none of which Russia absolutely controls.

"The themes of the decision can be stopping the 'massacre' that’s killing, on common, greater than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian troopers every week, and commerce," he wrote on Fact Social.

"I’ll then be talking to President Zelensky of Ukraine after which, with President Zelensky, varied members of NATO," he added. "Hopefully it will likely be a productive day, a ceasefire will happen, and this very violent struggle — a struggle that ought to have by no means occurred — will finish. God bless us all!!!"

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Russia's state-owned TASS information company on Might 17 that the preparations for the decision are underway.

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Following his Center East journey, Trump told Fox News' Bret Baier in an interview revealed on Might 16 that he believes Putin is able to strike a deal to finish the struggle in Ukraine, however warned that if negotiations fail, his administration will transfer ahead with sanctions in opposition to Moscow.

"Truthfully, I’ll (impose sanctions), if we're not gonna make a deal," Trump mentioned. "That is turkey time, we’re speaking turkey, and we’ll see what occurs. This could be crushing for Russia as a result of they're having a tough time now with the economic system, oil costs are low."

Trump mentioned he believes a deal received't be attainable with out his involvement and expressed plans to fulfill with Putin quickly, including: "I’ve an excellent relationship with Putin."

In the meantime, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call on Might 17, reportedly initiated by the U.S., to debate bilateral relations and up to date peace talks in Istanbul, Russian state media mentioned.

Lavrov welcomed what he known as Washington's "constructive" position in encouraging Kyiv to just accept Putin's proposal to renew talks. Rubio reportedly praised the 1,000-for-1,000 POW change and ongoing efforts to outline ceasefire phrases.

Russia plans 'coaching' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile in a single day on Might 19, Ukraine's HUR claims

Russia is planning a "coaching" launch of an RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile in a single day on Might 19, Ukraine's army intelligence (HUR) reported on Might 18.

In keeping with the agency, the missile can be geared up with a "coaching" warhead, and the transfer is meant to intimidate Ukraine, in addition to EU and NATO member states.

The launch is about to happen close to the village of Svobodny in Sverdlovsk Oblast, roughly 100 kilometers northeast of Yekaterinburg, in line with HUR.

The company didn’t specify what the potential goal of a attainable assault is perhaps.

Yars, or RS-24, is a strategic solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile system adopted by Russia in 2009. It has a claimed vary of 11,000 kilometers and, when geared up with a fight warhead, an explosive energy equal to one million tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT).

The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm all of the claims.

The attainable launch echoes Russia's use of an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) in an assault on Dnipro on Nov. 21, 2024, which adopted the lifting of U.S. and U.Ok. restrictions on long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.

That strike was additionally adopted by a Russian media campaign aimed toward eroding Western assist for Ukraine.

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New clips from Putin documentary recommend Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks in the past

Vladimir Putin mentioned on March 27 that Moscow has "enough forces and means" to deliver its struggle in opposition to Ukraine to a "logical conclusion" with out making any significant concessions, it has been revealed in new clips from a documentary launched on Might 18.

"Russia has sufficient forces and means to deliver what we began in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the consequence Russia wants," Putin mentioned whereas recording the movie "Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 Years."

"This result’s the elimination of the causes that led to this disaster, the creation of circumstances for long-term sustainable peace, and the safety of the Russian state."

The documentary aired on Might 4 however made solely passing references to the U.S.-led peace course of ongoing on the time of the interview.

The newest feedback — publicly withheld till now and posted on Telegram by the interviewer — come practically 4 months into U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire which has been repeatedly rejected by Russia.

A supply within the Ukrainian President's Workplace informed the Kyiv Impartial that Russia's delegation in Istanbulon Might 16 reiterated calls for for Ukraine to retreat from all annexed territories.

Within the new feedback, Putin mentioned a precedence is securing Russian-speaking populations in territories Russia claims as its personal — a reference to Crimea and the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

The Kremlin declared its annexation of the 4 areas in 2022 after sham referenda, regardless of not absolutely controlling any of them.

Moscow additionally insisted Ukraine abandon NATO ambitions, forgo reparations, and settle for a impartial standing with no overseas army assist — calls for Kyiv has categorically rejected.

Regardless of initiating the Istanbul talks, the Kremlin dispatched solely mid-level officials. Zelensky had known as on Putin to attend personally, stressing that solely the Russian president might authorize a ceasefire.

Kyiv and European governments proceed to push for an unconditional truce, which Ukraine accepted in March. Moscow has ignored the provide and intensified its strikes on Ukrainian cities.

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Ukraine's forty seventh Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams army management over 'silly targets'

Oleksandr Shyrshyn, battalion commander of the 47 Separate Mechanized Brigade, has submitted his resignation, sharply criticizing Ukraine's army management for what he described as mindless orders and pointless casualties.

"I’ve by no means obtained extra silly targets than within the present course," Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post saying his determination on Might 16. "Sometime I’ll let you know the main points, however the silly lack of individuals, trembling in entrance of a silly generals, results in nothing however failures."

"I hope your kids may even serve within the infantry and perform your orders," he added.

Ukraine's Normal Workers initiated an internal investigation on Might 18 in response to Shyrshyn's accusations.

The Kyiv Impartial reported in 2023 that the brigade, which was shaped from scratch in 2022 and is usually recognized by the identify "Magura," was ready with the summer time 2023 counteroffensive in thoughts; its troopers had been educated in NATO international locations and geared up with superior new Western tools.

In 2024, the brigade was engaged in fight operations inside Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the primary main overseas floor offensive into Russian territory since World Warfare II. The operation sought to delay a deliberate Russian push into Ukraine's Sumy Oblast and redirect Russian forces away from jap Donetsk Oblast.

Moscow started a serious counteroffensive in early March, retaking massive parts of territory together with the city of Sudzha. Ukrainian forces have since withdrawn from a lot of the realm however nonetheless preserve restricted management in some zones as of late April regardless of Russia's claims that its forces have absolutely recaptured the territory of the area.

In the meantime, Shyrshyn on Might 16 accused the army command of specializing in punishments slightly than outcomes. "All they’re able to is reprimands, investigations, imposition of penalties. Everybody goes to hell," he wrote. "Political video games and evaluation of the true state of affairs don’t correspond to both actuality or potentialities. They performed video games."

Shyrshyn mentioned he has filed a proper report requesting dismissal from his publish and expressed hope that it might be accepted quickly.

Ukraine’s General Staff responds after accusations of ‘stupid objectives’ from 47th Brigade battalion commanderThe move follows the resignation of Oleksandr Shyrshyn, commander of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

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