Politics of Kyiv Region and Ukraine

Politics

Over 50 Missiles and Up to 700 Drones: Russia Strikes All Districts of Kyiv, Two Killed and 56 Wounded

# Russia Delivers One of 2025's Largest Strikes on Kyiv On the night of May 24, Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Kyiv this year, deploying X-101 cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles, Iskander systems, and aerodynamic weapons. The Shevchenkivskyi district sustained the heaviest damage: the Kvadrat shopping center was destroyed by fire, a business center was hit, a nine-story residential building was damaged, and two schools were struck.

Politics

"60-Day MOA: USA and Iran Close to Signing, But Key Nuclear Issues Remain Unresolved"

Washington and Tehran are ready to halt hostilities for another two months and open the Strait of Hormuz, but the fate of 408 kg of enriched uranium and the mechanism for verifying the nuclear program remain outside the memorandum's scope.

Politics

"Without Ukraine, Europe Loses": What Vass's Thesis Means for the Continent's Future

# GLOBSEC Head Robert Vass Calls Ukraine a "Security Provider" for Europe. This Is Not a Compliment — It's a Diagnosis of Systemic Dependency GLOBSEC's head Robert Vass has characterized Ukraine as a security provider for Europe. However, this framing is not a tribute but rather an assessment revealing Europe's structural reliance on Ukraine's continued resistance and sacrifice.

Politics

"Drove into a lake — received a minimal fine for lying to police. Now — 5 years without Poland"

Lviv blogger Andriy Havrylov drove a Corvette to Lake Morskie Oko, paid 100 zlotys instead of 5,000 — and only because he hid from police where exactly he parked. Social media exposed him.

Politics

Lithuania wants to return the issue of frozen Russian assets to the agenda

Vilnius insists: €300 billion in blocked Russian reserves is not just a financial tool, but a real lever of pressure. Yet Europe still does not dare to use it fully.

Politics

Intelligence Warns of Possible Oreshnik Strike: What We Know and What We Don't

Zelensky Confirms: Ukraine Verifies Intelligence from American and European Partners on Russia's Preparations for "Oreshnik" Ballistic Missile Strike. Known Facts and Remaining Questions.

Politics

# Strike Against Legless Veteran — and Transfer to the Front: What's Wrong With the Army's Response

# A military TCC officer who struck veteran Artem Moroz, who uses prosthetics, on the head will face punishment in the form of deployment to the front lines. However, police opened a case only for "minor bodily injury," video evidence was destroyed under pressure, and the victim himself is an active serviceman of the 241st brigade.

Politics

205 returned — 795 await: what stands between the first and second stage of the 1000 for 1000 exchange

Verification is complete, but there is no specific date for the next stage. Russia has already disrupted an exchange once due to delays — and now the situation is repeating itself using the same pattern.

Politics

Strike on the "shadow fleet": Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked a tanker, frigate and missile ship of the Russian Federation

Ukraine's defense forces struck three maritime targets simultaneously — a shadow fleet tanker, a frigate, and a missile hovercaft. The extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed.

Politics

Drone Falls Into Lake in Latvia — and No One Saw It Fly There

A drone exploded after falling into water in Kumbula Parish. Latvia's armed forces sensors did not record any border crossing — and this is not the first such incident.

Politics

Coal Mine "Lüshenyou" in Shanxi: 90 Dead — and CO Sensor Activated Before Explosion

A methane explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi Province claimed 90 lives. It was revealed that a warning signal about excessive carbon monoxide levels was received before the explosion occurred.

Politics

Zelenskyy Wrote to EU Leaders: Associated Membership is "Unfair" Because it Leaves Ukraine Without a Voice

President rejects Merz's proposal in letter to EU leaders — and indicates that Orban's election defeat opens window for full-fledged negotiations on accession.

Politics

"Essentially a bureaucracy": Podoliak rewrites Yermak's role — while he, according to UP, still controls appointees

Presidential Office adviser Mykhailo Podolyak called the Office of the President a secretariat without executive functions, and Yermak a manager without his own political weight. This contradicts what sources at Ukrainska Pravda report: five months after his resignation, the former head of the Presidential Office maintains decisive influence over most key appointments.

Politics

Novorossiysk Under Attack: Two Oil Terminals "Sheskharis" and "Grushova" Burning Simultaneously

Overnight on May 23, drones attacked oil infrastructure in Novorossiysk — NASA FIRMS detected fire hotspots at both facilities. Russian authorities acknowledged the fire but, as is typical, blamed it on "drone debris."

Politics

Trump Weighs Strikes Against Iran at Meeting with Vance and Gabbard — While Pakistan and Qatar Storm Tehran

On May 22, Trump convened a National Security Council meeting to discuss possible resumption of airstrikes. Simultaneously, a Pakistani field marshal and a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran in a last-ditch effort to halt the escalation.

Politics

"Hussars" Return: Polish F-35 Husarz Lands Where Soviet MiGs Once Stood

Three American fifth-generation fighter jets landed at Łask Air Base — a place where Soviet MiG-29s were stationed just a few decades ago. For Poland, this is not just new equipment, but the final chapter of a thirty-year exit from Moscow's orbit.

Politics

Rutte: Front stabilizes, Russia loses more soldiers than it mobilizes

NATO Secretary General at a briefing following the Ramstein-34 meeting noted a shift in front-line dynamics in favor of Ukraine — while citing Russian casualty figures that cast doubt on Moscow's ability to maintain its offensive pace.

Politics

Strike on "Rubicon": General Staff responds to Russian claims about "civilian targets"

Ukrainian military confirmed a strike on a facility near Starobilsk and explained why Russian claims about "civilian casualties" are an information operation rather than fact.

Politics

Intermediary in Pretrial Detention, Bosses at Large: What the Arithmetic of Bail Says in the "Porn Offices" Case

Four regional police chiefs paid over 18 million hryvnia in bail and were released. The deputy minister's driver — the person who personally received cash and shuttled between pornography studios and police offices — remains behind bars because he cannot afford bail.

Politics

Kyiv's Housing Market Over a Year: Where the Money Is, Where the Risk Lies, and Why Demand Returned Sooner Than Expected

# Secondary Market Becomes Cheaper, New Construction Holds Prices, Buyers Return — But Not the Same Ones. What Has Changed on Kyiv's Real Estate Market Over the Past 12 Months.

Politics

"Schroeder - Definitely Not. Who Can Actually Represent Europe in Negotiations with Russia"

Foreign Affairs Minister Andriy Sybiga confirmed that there are candidates from Europe for talks with Russia, but the Kremlin will not determine who they are. According to Politico, the real choice is between Merkel, Stubb, and Draghi.

Politics

Associated NATO Membership: What Merz is Proposing and Why Kyiv Hasn't Responded Yet

Berlin has proposed a concept of "associated" status for Ukraine in the Alliance. Sybiga confirmed: negotiations are ongoing, but the outcome remains open.

Politics

Return After 61 Years: Why Melnykov Is Being Buried Now — And Why in the Pantheon of Prominent Ukrainians

The remains of OUN leader Andriy Melnyk, who died in exile in 1964, have arrived in Ukraine for the first time. On May 24, he will be reburied at the National Military Memorial Cemetery—alongside those who fell in the current war.

Politics

"Siren for the Sake of Silence: Cabinet Rewrites Function of Alert System"

Since March 2022, a minute of silence at 09:00 has existed as a presidential tradition — but without a unified signal across the country. The government closed this gap by allowing what several cities had already been doing unofficially.

Politics

Putin wants peace in 2025 — but only the kind where he keeps Donbas. Peskov says: there are no deadlines

Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source, reports: Putin seeks to end the war this year, but only on the condition of full control over Donbas and Europe's recognition of Moscow's territorial gains. The Kremlin immediately distanced itself from any timelines.

Politics

Rutte wants to keep the US in NATO with contracts: how it works and why the scheme isn't new

NATO Secretary General proposes that allies increase purchases of American weapons — to make the Alliance financially beneficial for Washington. There is no enforcement mechanism, only a "credible path."

Politics

"Bumblebee" from Mindych's films: 9 hectares near Bukovel and hotels – while the war was ongoing

Igor Khmelov, who was referred to by the pseudonym "Shmel" in recordings of the "Midas" operation, has registered approximately 24 land plots in the Carpathians worth $4.5 million since 2022 — and this is only what journalists were able to trace.

Politics

Ukrainian Drones Over the Baltic: How Russia Turns Foreign Weapons into a Diplomatic Problem for NATO

In three days — three states, three airspace violations. Baltic presidents demand NATO's response, but the real question is not about drones, but about who is actually changing their course.

Politics

$20,000 a month for silence: how an Interior Ministry driver coordinated bribes for top police officials in three regions

# Five Suspects in Pornography Network Cover-up Case Remanded into Custody Five suspects accused of covering up a "pornography office" network — four regional police chiefs and their intermediary — have been remanded into custody. During searches, investigators seized 22.6 million hryvnia in cash, six luxury vehicles, and Swiss watches from the suspects. The court set bail ranging from 1.1 to 8 million hryvnia, which the suspects failed to pay.

Politics

32 countries, 0.25% of GDP and open sabotage: how NATO divides responsibility for Ukraine

Rutte publicly named the circle of "top performers" — thus singling out the rest. France and Britain have already blocked the proposal to make this norm mandatory.