Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is preparing a strike against Ukraine using a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile.
Citing intelligence from Ukraine, the US and Europe, Zelensky’s warning came a day after Vladimir Putin ordered his military to prepare options for retaliation for a drone strike on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, which Kyiv denied responsibility for.
Zelensky said in an X post that did not mention the drone attack: "We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike.”
Russia has already attacked Ukraine twice with the Oreshnik, a missile which Vladimir Putin has boasted is impossible to intercept because of its reported velocity of more than 10 times the speed of sound.
"We are drawing the attention of our partners in the United States and in Europe to the fact that the use of such weapons and the prolongation of this war also sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors," Zelensky said.
Key Points
- Person dead after Russian drone targets funeral procession
- Death toll in student dorm strike rises to 16
- Ukraine says radiation spike detected after Russia uses uranium in missiles
- Trump says he's sending 5,000 more troops to Poland
- Putin says use of nuclear weapons is 'last resort' measure
Zelensky's tweet in full
02:30 , Dan Haygarth
Our intelligence services reported receiving data, including from American and European partners, about Russia preparing a strike with the Oreshnik missile. We are verifying this information.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 23, 2026
We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory,…
Comment: This is why easing Russia’s oil sanctions is a gut punch to Ukraine
01:30 , Daniel Haygarth
The PM’s decision to ease oil sanctions on Russia will kill Ukrainians and enfeeble Britain, and is a stain on the national reputation, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley, who has spent more than 11 years covering the region.
This is why easing Russia’s oil sanctions is a gut punch to Ukraine
Russia says 16 killed in strike on student dorm that it blamed on Ukraine
00:30 , Dan Haygarth
The death toll from a drone strike on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine has risen to 16, with most of the victims young women, Russian officials said on Saturday, after a heated UN debate on the incident.
Vladimir Putin ordered his military to prepare options for retaliation against Ukraine on Friday after Moscow accused Kyiv of what it described as a deliberate drone strike on a college in the town of Starobilsk.
Ukraine's military denied responsibility for the attack, saying it had struck an elite drone command unit in the area and that its forces complied with international humanitarian law. Putin said there were no military facilities in the area.
Reuters said it was not able to independently verify what happened.
At the scene on Saturday, a crane was working to remove rubble from a yawning gap in the building. Inside one shattered classroom, bricks and dust covered rows of student desks with "I love English" written on the wall. Elsewhere, a stairwell was blocked by debris.
Zelensky: 'Please take care of yourselves and use shelters tonight'
23:32 , Dan Haygarth
The Ukrainian leader wrote on X: “Our intelligence services reported receiving data, including from American and European partners, about Russia preparing a strike with the Oreshnik missile. We are verifying this information.
“We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike. It is important to act responsibly on air-raid alerts, starting this evening. Russian madness truly knows no bounds, so please protect your lives – use shelters.
“Second, we are drawing the attention of our partners in the United States and in Europe to the fact that the use of such weapons and the prolongation of this war also sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors. If Russia is allowed to destroy lives on such a scale, then no agreement will restrain other similar hatred-based regimes from aggression and strikes. We count on a response from the world – and on a response that is not post factum, but preventive. Pressure must be put on Moscow so that it does not expand the war.
“Third, we are preparing our air defense as much as possible, and we will respond fully justly to every Russian strike. We have given permission for a parade, but Russia has no permission for madness. This war must be ended – we need peace, not some missiles satisfying the sick ambitions of one individual. I thank everyone helping to protect lives. Once again, please take care of yourselves and use shelters tonight.”
'Escalatory and unacceptable' - Britain, France and Germany on the Oreshnik use in January
22:25 , Dan Haygarth
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany in January described Russia's use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile in western Ukraine as "escalatory and unacceptable".
Zelensky said that Kyiv counts on a response from the world and on a "response that is not post factum, but preventive."
Pressure must be put on Moscow so that it does not expand the war, he added.
Full story: Ukrainian drone attack sparks huge fire at key Russian oil terminal
20:50 , Daniel Haygarth
Ukrainian drone attack sparks huge fire at key Russian oil terminal
Russia preparing strike on Ukraine using hypersonic 'Oreshnik' missile, Zelensky says
19:54 , Dan Haygarth
Russia is preparing a strike against Ukraine using a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday, citing intelligence from Ukraine, the US and Europe.
The warning came a day after Vladimir Putin ordered his military to prepare options for retaliation against Ukraine for a drone strike on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military denied responsibility for that attack.
"We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike," Zelensky said in an X post that did not mention the drone attack.
Russia has already attacked Ukraine twice with the Oreshnik, a missile which President Vladimir Putin has boasted is impossible to intercept because of its reported velocity of more than 10 times the speed of sound.
Moscow first fired an Oreshnik against what it said was a military factory in Ukraine in November 2024. On that occasion Ukrainian sources said the missile was carrying dummy warheads, not explosives, and caused limited damage.
The second attack was in January 2026, and the missile struck Lviv region in the west of the country.
"We are drawing the attention of our partners in the United States and in Europe to the fact that the use of such weapons and the prolongation of this war also sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors," Zelensky said.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany in January described Russia's use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile in western Ukraine as "escalatory and unacceptable".
Zelenskiy said that Kyiv counts on a response from the world and on a "response that is not post factum, but preventive."
Pressure must be put on Moscow so that it does not expand the war, he added.
Watch: Nato tests ‘deep strike’ missile operations from London Tube station to prepare for Russian attack
18:30 , Harriette Boucher
Zelensky: 'Ukraine’s place in the EU must be full and equal'
17:30 , Harriette Boucher
Ukraine is actively working to to become a member of the EU, as it “fights for its life”, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“There can be no complete European project without Ukraine, and Ukraine’s place in the European Union must also be complete – full and equal,” the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
“It is important to open the clusters. It is important to make meaningful progress in the negotiations. It is important to work at one hundred percent for security and for our people.”
“Ukraine is fighting for its life, for its independence, and for the Europe that has lived in peace the longest, that protects people, life and culture, and that, thanks to this protection, plays a truly global role.”
Earlier, President Zelensky said Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” member of the EU was “unfair” because it would leave Kyiv without a voice inside the box.
In pictures: Ukrainians take part in 'Wild Drones' competition
16:30 , Harriette Boucher
Russia becoming more reckless and dangerous as Ukraine war falters, foreign secretary warns
15:30 , Harriette Boucher
Russia’s deteriorating performance on the battlefield is rendering it “more reckless and dangerous”, the foreign secretary has warned, declaring that the post-Cold War “peace dividend” has vanished.
Speaking after a Nato foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden, Yvette Cooper highlighted the escalating threat posed by Moscow’s unpredictability.
“We discussed in the Nato foreign ministers’ meeting how Russia’s weakening on the battlefield against Ukraine is also making them more reckless and dangerous,” she said.
Ms Cooper detailed how Russia, despite being under immense pressure from Ukraine’s military response and economic challenges, is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
This manifests in “escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians, increasing hybrid threats across the continent, and reports of drone incursions”. She added that the threat from Russia is expanding across “air, land, sea, space, cyber and information warfare”.
Russia becoming more reckless and dangerous as Ukraine war falters, Cooper warns
Death toll in student dorm strike rises to 16
15:05 , Harriette Boucher
The death toll from a drone strike on a student dorm in the Luhansk region has risen to 16, with most of the victims young women, Russian officials said on Saturday.
Russia's state-run news agency RIA reported that five people remained trapped under the rubble.
Person dead after Russian drone targets funeral procession
14:31 , Harriette Boucher
A Russian drone has killed one person after striking a funeral procession on the outskirts of the northeast Ukrainian city of Sumy on Saturday.
Another nine people were injured in the attack, local authorities said.
Local media reported that a guided attack drone had hit the road near a bus.
Ukraine denies Russian claims of deadly drone strike in Luhansk
13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Ukraine has denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone strike in Luhansk Oblast killed six people and injured dozens of children.
Russia said the strike hit a dormitory linked to a college in Starobilsk, and Russian president Vladimir Putin condemned the attack.
Moscow also requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Ukraine’s General Staff called the accusations misleading information and said its drones targeted Russian military infrastructure in the area overnight on 22 May, including ammunition depots, air defence systems, command posts, and a headquarters linked to Russia’s elite drone unit, the Rubikon Center for Unmanned Technologies.
Ukraine said the Rubikon unit regularly carries out attacks on Ukrainian civilians and insisted it only strikes military targets in line with international law.
Proposal of associate EU membership 'unfair', says Zelensky
12:30 , Harriette Boucher
Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine”associate” member of the EU was “unfair” because it would leave Kyiv without a voice inside the box, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Friedrich Merz has suggested allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings without a vote as an interim step to full membership of the bloc, which he said could help facilitate a deal to end the four-year-old war triggered by Russia's invasion.
In a letter to EU leaders, Zelensky said that the removal of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban - a staunch opponent of Ukraine's EU membership - following elections last month created the opportunity for substantive progress on accession talks.
“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless.
“The time is right to move forward with Ukraine's membership in a full and meaningful way."
Falling drone debris causes fire at oil terminal in Russia's Novorossiysk
11:30 , Harriette Boucher
Falling debris from drones has caused a fire to break out at a oil terminal in Russia’s Black Sea port port of Novorossiysk.
Officials said two people, who had been in the street when the drones hit the port, were injured and being treated in hospital.
Drones also damaged private houses farther north in the port city of Anapa, officials said.
Russia also intercepted Ukrainian drones targeting an industrial facility in Perm, regional governor Dmitry Makhonin on Saturday.
Death toll rises to 10 in attack on student dorm
10:30 , Harriette Boucher
The death toll from the drone strike on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine has risen to 10, a Russian official has said.
Another 48 people have been injured and 11 remain unaccounted for, Leonid Pasechni stated.
Russia has threatened to retaliate over the deadly attack, accusing Ukraine of what it described as a deliberate drone strike in the town of Starobilsk.
Ukraine's military denied the Russian accusations and said it had struck an elite drone command unit in the area. It said that Kyiv complied with international humanitarian law.
Russia becoming ‘more reckless’ as Moscow weakened by war – Yvette Cooper
10:00 , Stuti Mishra
A weaker performance on the battlefield is making Russia “more reckless and dangerous”, the Foreign Secretary has warned.
Yvette Cooper said the peace dividend which began when the Cold War ended is “gone”, following a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Sweden.
Read more:
Russia becoming ‘more reckless’ as Moscow weakened by war – Yvette Cooper
Death toll in student dorm strike rises to 10, Russian-installed official says
09:52 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Russia says a Ukrainian drone strike on a student dorm in Russian-controlled Luhansk has killed 10 people, injured 48, and left 11 missing.
Earlier, it was reported that six were killed.
Moscow called it a deliberate attack on civilians, and Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered possible retaliation plans.
Ukraine denies targeting civilians, saying it actually struck a Russian elite drone command unit in the area and that the operation followed international law.
Unexploded drone removed from high-rise apartment in Ukraine after Russia strike
09:30 , Harriette Boucher
Fire at Ukrainian electrical substation partially cuts power to nuclear plant, IAEA says
09:00 , Stuti Mishra
A fire at a Ukrainian electrical substation caused by military activity has partially disconnected a nuclear power station from its external power supply, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday.
Firefighters were tackling the blaze at the Dniprovska 750-kilovolt substation, which also provides external power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — Europe's largest, seized by Russia in 2022. As a result, the South Ukraine nuclear plant was partially disconnected from the grid at the request of the grid operator, the IAEA said.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi expressed "deep concern," saying "such substations that are critical for nuclear safety must never be targeted."
The Zaporizhzhia plant generates no electricity but requires power to keep its nuclear fuel cool. One of its external lines has been down since 24 March, with the IAEA trying to arrange a ceasefire to carry out repairs. The head of Russia's Rosatom said this week the situation around the plant was reaching the "point of no return" due to increased Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine relies on nuclear power for up to 80 per cent of its energy needs since the Russian invasion.
Nato turns London Tube into ‘deep strike’ underground HQ to plan for Russian attack
08:30 , Harriette Boucher
The Independent world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Nato forces have taken over a London Tube station to use as their underground HQ as they simulate launching “deep strike” operations on Russia in the event of an attack on a member state.
In a ramping up of preparations for war, the UK-led Nato Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) moved its military capability to a disused platform at Charing Cross station.
As part of Operation Arrcade Strike, soldiers are testing Nato’s capacity to use electronic warfare to jam Russia’s communications and down the Kremlin’s drones in the event of a Russian invasion of a Baltic country.
Defence sources said the UK only has enough drones to fight for a week, using a few hundred a day, which is well below the quantity that is needed. In Ukraine, that amounts to thousands per day in non-stop use, amid continued pleas from generals for Europe’s defence industry to help meet the challenge of a strategic threat.
Speaking from the Tube platform, US general Christopher Donahue, head of Nato’s Land Command, delivered an unvarnished warning to the alliance, saying that Nato has little time to prepare to meet a potential Russian attack.
“Mission-ready by 2030 is not a slogan, it is what we must do,” he said. “Legacy forms of mobilisation and movement are no longer a given Nato advantage, and a lack of protection in depth will be used against us.”
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Nato tests missile operations from Tube station to prepare for Russian attack
Russia lost over 1.35 million troops in Ukraine war, Kyiv says
08:29 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Russia has lost around 1,354,810 troops in Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
Ukraine also claims that Russia has lost large quantities of military equipment, including 11,949 tanks, 24,599 armoured combat vehicles, 42,579 artillery systems, 436 aircraft, 353 helicopters, more than 306,000 drones, 33 warships and boats, and two submarines.
Ukraine has not publicly disclosed its own military losses, citing operational secrecy. However, independent Western assessments suggest Russian casualties are significantly higher than Ukraine’s, The Kyiv Independent reported.
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates the casualty ratio to be “roughly 2.5:1 or 2:1” in Ukraine’s favour.
Falling drone debris triggers fire at oil terminal in Russia's Novorossiysk
07:56 , Stuti Mishra
Falling debris from drones triggered a fire at an oil terminal in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and one person was injured, officials said this morning.
The General Headquarters of southern Krasnodar Region, posting on Telegram, said several technical and administrative buildings had caught fire. Debris had also fallen on the facility's oil storage terminal.
Pete Hegseth facing bipartisan pressure over $600 million Ukraine aid package
07:28 , Harriette Boucher
A bipartisan group of senators is pushing back on delays by the Department of Defense in sending $600 million in security aid to Ukraine and other allies in eastern Europe, dispatching a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday that calls for the funding to be disbursed.
Friction has grown between Congress and the Trump administration in recent weeks as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle push for updates on what has happened with $400 million in Ukraine and $200 million more for defense programs in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The money was allocated by Congress last year.
Even Republican lawmakers have aired their frustration as President Donald Trump's administration disengages with Ukraine and other European allies.
“Ukraine has persistently and bravely repelled a four-year Russian onslaught, but its military needs and deserves continued American support,” said Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley in the joint letter.
Pete Hegseth facing bipartisan pressure over $600 million Ukraine aid package
Russia becoming ‘more reckless’ as Moscow weakened by war – Yvette Cooper
04:00 , Bryony Gooch
A weaker performance on the battlefield is making Russia “more reckless and dangerous”, the UK foreign secretary has warned.
Yvette Cooper said the peace dividend which began when the Cold War ended is “gone”, following a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Sweden.
She said: “We discussed in the Nato foreign ministers’ meeting how Russia’s weakening on the battlefield against Ukraine is also making them more reckless and dangerous.
“In the face of that threat and the ongoing global instability, the Nato alliance is vital and enduring, but within it Europe and the UK must do more.
“We have already been stepping up with significantly increased defence investment but we have to face up to the need to do much more so we properly protect our citizens.
“Russia is now under huge pressure from Ukraine’s military response and from economic challenges but that is making them more unpredictable with escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians, increasing hybrid threats across the continent, and reports of drone incursions.
“The threat from Russia is increasing on air, land, sea, space, cyber and information warfare.”
Watch: Nato tests ‘deep strike’ missile operations from London Tube station to prepare for Russian attack
03:00 , Bryony Gooch
Belarusian journalist falls dangerously ill in prison, relatives say, urging for him to be released
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Belarusian journalist falls dangerously ill in prison, relatives say, urging for him to be released
Recap: Putin says using nuclear weapons would be ‘last resort’ after massive joint drills with Belarus
23:34 , Dan Haygarth
Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the use of nuclear weapons was a “last resort” measure after Russia and Belarus held massive nuclear drills on land, sea and air.
The Russian president claimed that Moscow’s nuclear arsenal acted as a guarantor of “sovereignty” as his army wrapped up its biggest nuclear exercise in years, involving 64,000 troops as well as submarines and hypersonic missiles.
Europe has condemned the nuclear drills as provocative as tensions rise with Nato, with the alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte warning that any attacks on Nato would incur a “devastating” response.
Full story below.
Putin says nuclear weapons would be ‘last resort’ after joint drills with Belarus
European leaders vow to 'double down' support for Ukraine
01:06 , Bryony Gooch
Sir Keir Starmer and leaders from France and Germany have vowed to “double down on their support” for Ukraine, No 10 said on Friday.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister held a virtual meeting with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of France Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this afternoon.
“President Zelensky updated on the progress made by Ukraine’s military in recent weeks, as it continues to ramp up its defence in the face of (Russian president Vladimir) Putin’s continued attacks.
“The leaders paid tribute to the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people and confirmed they would double down on their support in the coming months.
“They agreed that standing up to Russian aggression remains vital for European and global security, and reaffirmed their commitment to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
“They agreed to speak again soon.”
Watch: Putin says using nuclear weapons would be ‘last resort’ after massive joint drills with Belarus
Saturday 23 May 2026 00:01 , Bryony Gooch
Recap: Germany's defence spending to surpass 4% of GDP this year
Friday 22 May 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday his government will spend more than 4% of the country's gross domestic product on defence this year and is on its way to 5%.
Germany will suggest intensifying defence cooperation with Ukraine with the goal to speed up production, Wadephul also said prior to a meeting of NATO held in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Recap: France eyes involvement in British-German long-range missile programme
Friday 22 May 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
France is reportedly looking to join a British-German plan to make new long-range missiles as Europe weans itself off military reliance on the United States.
Sources familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times that Paris has formally expressed interest in joining the deep precision strike programme.
The three nations are hoping to hold trilateral talks early next month, the newspaper reports.
The programme aims to build a series of ground-launched missiles with a range of more than 2,000km, capable of hitting military targets deep inside Russia.
Russia launches nuclear war games on Europe’s doorstep as Nato issues stark warning
Friday 22 May 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
Russia has begun nuclear war games and moved Iskander-M missiles into Belarus, on the doorstep of the European Union. Ukraine has rushed troops to its northern border, and Nato has condemned the threatening moves.
Russia’s ministry of defence issued a press release and video footage to ensure that the threat against Ukraine and its allies was clear.
Ria Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned news site, said: “Since May 18, Belarus has begun training in the combat use of nuclear weapons and their provision by military units. It involves the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the Long-Range Aviation Command, as well as part of the forces of the Leningrad and Central Military Districts.”
Russia launches nuclear war games on Europe’s doorstep as Nato issues stark warning
Nato tests ‘deep strike’ missile operations from London Tube station to prepare for Russian attack
Friday 22 May 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
Nato forces have taken over a London tube station to use as their underground HQ as they simulate launching “deep strike” operations on Russia in the event of an attack on allied forces.
In a ramping up of preparations for war, the UK-led Nato Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) moved its military capability to a disused platform at Charing Cross station.
As part of Operation Arcade Strike, soldiers are testing Nato’s capacity to use electronic warfare to jam Russia’s communications and down the Kremlin’s drones in case of a fictional Russian invasion of a Baltic country.
Nato tests missile operations from Tube station to prepare for Russian attack
IAEA reports fire at Ukraine's Dniprovska electrical substation due to military activity
Friday 22 May 2026 19:30 , Bryony Gooch
The International Atomic Energy Agency said Ukraine had informed it that a fire broke out at the Dniprovska 750-kilovolt electrical substation on Friday due to military activity.
The UN nuclear watchdog said South Ukraine nuclear power plant was partially disconnected from its off-site power supplies at the request of the grid operator as a result of the incident.
Kyiv casts doubt on progress in US-brokered talks
Friday 22 May 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
With Europe now eyeing a lead role in direct communications with Russia, Ukraine says that US-brokered talks are reaching the point of exhaustion.
Foreign minister andrii Sybiha said on Friday: “My impression is that this format is gradually reaching the point where discussions possible at this level are becoming exhausted.
“At times, the same issues end up being discussed several times over.”
Little tangible progress has been made to end the war since talks broke down in February. And with the US now tied up in Iran, Europe is weighing restarting dialogue with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Sybiha assessed that European engagement is one of the ways to reinvigorate the process. Another option, he added, is meeting at the leaders' level, which Ukraine has been pressing for.
Ukraine claims Russian accusation of attack on student dorm is 'manipulation'
Friday 22 May 2026 18:15 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine's military on Friday denied Russian accusations that it attacked a student dormitory in the occupied Starobilsk as "manipulation" and said it targeted an elite drone command unit in the area.
Kyiv's general staff said on Facebook that it hit one of the headquarters of the Rubicon drone unit near the town overnight.
It stressed that Ukraine complies with international humanitarian law.
Warsaw welcomes US decision to send troops to Poland
Friday 22 May 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said that Donald Trump's decision on the presence of American troops in Poland is “good news for Poland and the USA”.
“I thank everyone involved in this matter, President (of Poland) Nawrocki, ministers, congressmen, and friends of Poland in the USA for their effectiveness and unity of action,” he wrote on the X platform.
It came after Trump said on Thursday the United States would send 5,000 more troops to Poland, citing his relationship with conservative president Karol Nawrocki as the reason.
On Tuesday, JD Vance told reporters a US troop deployment to Poland had been delayed, but it was not accurate to say the troops were being withdrawn from Europe.
Earlier, Polish authorities had been alarmed by reports that the Pentagon had cancelled plans to deploy troops there, but they offered reassurances to Poles that this was not the case.
Zelensky says he expects US proposals on new formats of peace talks
Friday 22 May 2026 17:30 , Bryony Gooch
Diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine should be reinvigorated, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday after talks with leaders of Britain, France and Germany.
Zelensky added in his evening address that he expects proposals from the United States on new formats of diplomacy, stressing that the frontline situation was favourable to Ukraine after Kyiv's troops liberated 590 square kilometres so far this year.
Europe floats temporary reprieve on sanctions hitting targeting
Friday 22 May 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
The European Commission proposed a 9-month derogation on dealings with a Chinese semiconductor company listed in its 20th package of sanctions against Russia, a Commission spokesperson has said.
The company, Yangzhou Yangjie Electronic, will remain on the EU's sanctions list but the temporary reprieve will allow automakers to find alternative chip supplies and avoid a "severe disruption", the spokesperson said.
EU countries will have to unanimously agree on the proposal for the measure to come into force.
In pictures: Ukrainian forces try to intercept a Russian drone in Kharkiv
Friday 22 May 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
Putin vows retaliation over 'Ukrainian strike on student dorms'
Friday 22 May 2026 15:36 , James Reynolds
Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation over a Ukrainian strike reported to have struck a student dormitory in occupied Luhansk.
The Russian president claimed on Friday that six people were killed and 39 injured overnight, accusing Ukraine of committing a “terrorist attack”.
Fifteen people are still reported missing as emergency teams continue rescue efforts at the scene, he said.
Putin assessed that the strike was not accidental and said that he had asked the defence ministry to prepare options for retaliation.
Ukraine is yet to comment on the strike. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilian areas. The Independent was unable to verify the claims.
Russia’s RIA state news agency reported earlier that a dorm housing 86 students collapsed following a “massive drone strike” on the Starobilsk College of Luhansk Pedagogical University.
Recap: Rubio defends US record on Ukraine
Friday 22 May 2026 15:30 , James Reynolds
Ukraine is “getting more support than ever” as a result of the US selling defence equipment to Nato allies, Marco Rubio said during a meeting with partners in Europe on Friday.
The US secretary of state defended the Trump administration’s record in selling arms to allies to be given to Ukraine through the PURL initiative, stressing the value of the military alliance to Nato.
“I understand Nato’s valuable to Europe, and it should be,” he said, adding: “It also has to be valuable to the United States.”
Donald Trump has floated leaving the military alliance and withdrawn direct support for Ukraine offered under the Biden administration since returning to office last year.
The comments come amid a widening rift between Europe and the US over Europe’s perceived lack of support for Trump’s war in Iran and US threats to withdraw troops from the old continent.
Trump surprised Nato allies this week by pledging to send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, but Rubio cautioned ministers that Washington’s frustrations would still have to be addressed.
Russia says four killed, 35 children wounded in Ukrainian attack
Friday 22 May 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
Russian officials say that at least four people were killed and 35 children wounded in an overnight Ukrainian attack on a student dorm in Russian-controlled Luhansk.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, which seeks to retake the eastern region. The Independent was unable to verify the claims.
Yana Lantratova, Russia's Human Rights Commissioner, said that 86 teenagers aged 14 to 18 had been asleep inside the hostel belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University's Starobilsk college when Ukrainian drones attacked it during the night.
Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Rubio acknowledges US-mediated talks so far 'not fruitful'
Friday 22 May 2026 14:50 , James Reynolds
Rubio goes on to acknowledge that US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia have so far not been “frutiful”.
“If we see an opportunity to pull together talks that are productive, not counterproductive, and that have the chance to be fruitful, we’re prepared to play that role,” he adds.
Ukraine is getting more support than ever, says Rubio
Friday 22 May 2026 14:44 , James Reynolds
Speaking now at a Nato meeting of foreign ministers in Sweden, Marco Rubio says Ukraine is “getting more support than they ever have” through the PURL programme.
He adds that the US is interested in “productive talks” on Ukraine, but criticises allies over their lack of support on Iran.
“I understand Nato’s valuable to Europe, and it should be,” he says.
“It also has to be valuable to the United States, so we always have to make that argument in every administration, in every era, and that’s what we’re in the process of doing now, is explaining, you know, this is the value of Nato to the United States, related to that, is what our force posture is within that alliance, what our contributions are.”
Watch: Inside Nato’s London tube war drill
Friday 22 May 2026 14:28 , James Reynolds
The Independent joined Nato as forces took over a London tube station in preparation for a Russian attack.
Nato’s UK-run command centre took over Charing Cross tube to test its ability to fight off Russia amid continued criticism that Britain isn’t war ready.
As part of Operation Arcade Strike, soldiers are testing Nato’s capacity to use electronic warfare to jam Russia’s communications and down the Kremlin’s drones in case of a fictional Russian invasion of a Baltic country:
$1m worth of emergency aid destroyed in Russian strike on Ukraine
Friday 22 May 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
The UN’s refugee agency said on Friday that it had lost $1m worth of emergency aid in a Russian missile strike that hit one of its warehouses in Dnipro, Ukraine.
The warehouse, which contained emergency shelter materials including sleeping mats and hygiene kits, was destroyed and Wednesday and two people were killed, the UNCHR representative in Kyiv said.
Bernadette Castel-Hollingworth said it was the first time a UNHCR facility had been “targeted or attacked”.
The supplies were destined to be distributed to displaced and war-affected people in frontline areas in Ukraine, and deprive people of critical assistance at a time of significant need as forced displacement and evacuations continue from frontline regions, according to UNHCR.
France eyes involvement in British-German long-range missile programme
Friday 22 May 2026 13:46 , James Reynolds
France is reportedly looking to join a British-German plan to make new long-range missiles as Europe weans itself off military reliance on the United States.
Sources familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times that Paris has formally expressed interest in joining the deep precision strike programme.
The three nations are hoping to hold trilateral talks early next month, the newspaper reports.
The programme aims to build a series of ground-launched missiles with a range of more than 2,000km, capable of hitting military targets deep inside Russia.
Kyiv casts doubt on progress in US-brokered talks
Friday 22 May 2026 13:28 , James Reynolds
With Europe now eyeing a lead role in direct communications with Russia, Ukraine says that US-brokered talks are reaching the point of exhaustion.
Foreign minister andrii Sybiha said on Friday: “My impression is that this format is gradually reaching the point where discussions possible at this level are becoming exhausted.
“At times, the same issues end up being discussed several times over.”
Little tangible progress has been made to end the war since talks broke down in February. And with the US now tied up in Iran, Europe is weighing restarting dialogue with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Sybiha assessed that European engagement is one of the ways to reinvigorate the process. Another option, he added, is meeting at the leaders' level, which Ukraine has been pressing for.
Watch: Zelensky confirms attack on Russian oil refinery as Putin plans to test nuclear-capable missiles
Friday 22 May 2026 11:30 , Arpan Rai
Nato chief asks Ukraine's allies to spend more to help Kyiv
Friday 22 May 2026 11:00 , Arpan Rai
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has called on Ukraine's allies to offer more support, as he called out some member nations for a lack of spending.
Expenditure to back Ukraine's defence “is not evenly distributed within Nato,” with “a limited” group of countries leading the effort – Sweden, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark – but many others “not spending enough when it comes to the support for Ukraine,” Rutte said.
Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson also underlined the concerns and said that Stockholm is the third largest donor and “it would be far better if more countries competed with the our size of support”.
“We need to be long term and firm in our support. So I really would like more countries that speak so extremely well about Ukraine to also put the money where the mouth is,” he said.
Starmer's ex-chief of staff McSweeney to warn of Russia's AI misuse in Ukraine
Friday 22 May 2026 10:45 , Arpan Rai
Morgan McSweeney, prime minister Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, is heading to Prague for a rare public appearance as he is set to warn people over the danger posed by artificial intelligence in elections.
He will be especially focussing on how AI could be a weapon for Russia to interfere with any future elections in Ukraine, reported Politico.
McSweeney resigned as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in February after taking “full responsibility” for advising the prime minister to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
The ex-Downing Street official will be appearing on a panel alongside media executives and polling specialists on Friday.
He also spoke about AI earlier this year at the Kyiv Security Forum.
Power outages recorded in Ukraine's Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia region
Friday 22 May 2026 10:25 , Arpan Rai
The Russia-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region was experiencing emergency power blackouts this morning, Russia-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky was quoted as saying by the Kommersant newspaper.
However, critical infrastructure was working as usual, he said, without providing further details, according to Kommersant.
Separately, the Russia-appointed head of the parts of southern Kherson region held by Russian forces, Vladimir Saldo, said on Telegram that nine areas were cut off the power grid after drone attacks.
It is not immediately clear what was causing the power cut but the region has been facing an increased number of attacks from Russian forces and military responses from Ukrainian forces fighting for the territory.
Russia downs drones headed for Moscow and nearby Yaroslavl region
Friday 22 May 2026 10:05 , Arpan Rai
Russian defence systems were working to repel drone attacks over Moscow and the nearby Yaroslavl region in the early hours today, local authorities said on the Telegram messaging app.
At least four drones headed for Moscow were downed and emergency services were deployed to the area, said mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Moscow and the Yaroslavl region, northeast of the capital, also came under drone attack earlier this week. Russia has energy infrastructure in both areas.
Why are Ukrainian drones targeting Russian facilities in Black Sea?
Friday 22 May 2026 09:45 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Baltic Sea ports used for Russian energy exports in an attempt to hit Moscow’s war chest at a time US president Donald Trump’s war in Iran has driven up the price of oil, a key revenue stream for the Kremlin.
The sustained drone offensive over the past few months has caused significant disruption to Ukraine's Baltic allies, with one drone crashing into the chimney of a power plant in Estonia, another hitting empty fuel tanks in Latvia and others being shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Nordic and Baltic nations have increasingly warned about electronic interference from Russia disrupting communications with planes, ships and drones.
In the Baltic region, Russia often uses jamming and spoofing to send drones off course.
Ukraine's intensifying attacks against Russia have focused on arms factories, ports on the Baltic Sea and energy facilities as the war in Iran has boosted oil prices.
It has particularly targeted the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, close to the borders of Estonia and Finland. Russia uses the ports to load up ships taking its oil exports through the Baltic Sea.
During one attack in May, which set part of the port of Primorsk on fire, more than 60 Ukrainian drones were shot down, Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko said.
Zelensky says oil plant strikes on Russia going according to plan
Friday 22 May 2026 09:25 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the country’s efforts to weaken Russian oil facilities are going according to plan.
Yesterday, Ukrainian drones hit the Syzran oil refinery more than 800km (500 miles) inside Russia. Local media reported that the Ukrainian drones hit the Syzran refinery owned by oil and gas company Rosneft.
“Overall, our long-range plan for May is being carried out largely in full. The key targets are Russian oil refineries, storage facilities and other infrastructure tied to these oil revenues,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
Another Ukrainian long-range sanction against Russian oil refining – and we are continuing this line of action. This time around, it was the Syzran oil refinery – more than 800 kilometers away from our border. I thank the warriors of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the Special… pic.twitter.com/agLuhwrvQS
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 21, 2026
Lukashenko says Belarus will not be dragged into Ukraine war, but will defend itself with Russia
Friday 22 May 2026 09:10 , Arpan Rai
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed any notion that Belarus would be dragged into the Ukraine war, but said Russia and Belarus would jointly defend themselves in case of aggression, Belarusian state news agency BELTA reported.
Lukashenko was also quoted by BELTA as saying that he was ready to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly suggested that Belarus could become further involved in the more than four-year-old conflict.
Lukashenko made his remarks during joint nuclear exercises with Russia which he and Russian president Vladimir Putin observed via a video conference.
“As for (Zelensky's) statements that Belarus will be drawn into the war, as I have just said, this will occur in only one instance – if aggression is committed on our territory," BELTA quoted Lukashenko as saying.
"We will together defend our Fatherland... where our two countries stand," he added.
He said that if Zelensky wanted to "talk about something, have a discussion or perhaps something else, by all means, we are open to this. Any location – Ukraine, Belarus – I am ready to meet him and discuss problems in our relations”.
Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory for Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Zelensky has for weeks warned of unusual activity and a possible cross-border incursion.
Ukraine says radiation spike detected after Russia uses uranium in missiles
Friday 22 May 2026 09:06 , Adam Withnall
Ukraine’s security agency says Russia used depleted uranium in a missile fired at Chernihiv Oblast in the north of the country last month.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said it detected a spike in radiation levels coming from an unexploded missile that had been fired by a Russian drone.
The missile had been used to target Ukrainian aircraft, the SBU said, and was armed with Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 projectiles.
The SBU urged members of the public to be extremely cautious if they found any debris or unexploded munitions on the ground, with the high levels of radiation recorded posing a threat to human health.
Depleted uranium is widely used by militaries around the world because of its density, which makes it effective at penetrating armour. Russia had expressed outrage earlier in the war at reports that the UK would be providing depleted uranium tank shells to the Ukrainian military.
A waste product of nuclear processes, depleted uranium is much less radioactive than natural uranium and cannot generate a nuclear reaction.
Germany urges the EU to offer Ukraine 'associate membership'
Friday 22 May 2026 08:40 , Arpan Rai
German chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the European Union to consider offering “associate membership” to Ukraine and breathe new life into talks aimed at ending more than four years of war with Russia, according to a letter seen on Thursday by The Associated Press.
His letter, to the EU’s top officials, comes as the 27-nation bloc weighs whether to try to launch its own negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin, with US mediated talks bogged down while America’s attention focuses on the Iran war.
Under Merz’s proposals, Ukraine would take part in EU meetings, but without voting rights, and would also have non-voting “associate members” of the bloc’s powerful executive branch, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
He insisted that this “would not be a membership light,” and “go far beyond” the Association Agreement that currently governs EU-Ukraine relations. Merz suggested a “snap-back mechanism” in case Ukraine backslides on democratic standards.
Germany urges the EU to offer Ukraine 'associate membership' and boost talks with Russia
Trump says he's sending 5,000 more troops to Poland
Friday 22 May 2026 08:10 , Arpan Rai
President Donald Trump has said the US will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, stirring confusion following weeks of changing statements from Trump and his administration about reducing – not increasing – the American military footprint in Europe.
The Trump administration has said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and US officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer deploying to Poland.
Trump’s social media announcement raises more uncertainty for European allies that have been blindsided by the changes as the administration has complained about Nato members not shouldering enough of the burden of their own defence and failing to do more to support the Iran war.
“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland," Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump and the Pentagon have said in recent weeks that they were drawing down at least 5,000 troops in Germany after chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticised what he called a lack of strategy in the war.
Trump then told reporters at the beginning of the month that the US would be "cutting a lot further than 5,000”.
It is not immediately clear whether that meant the brigade would resume its deployment to Poland, if additional troops on top of that rotational deployment could be added, or whether there would still be a drawdown of US troops in Europe but from a different country.
Russian oil refineries hit over 150 times by Ukraine since start of war – report
Friday 22 May 2026 07:44 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine has attacked Russia’s oil refinery facilities at least 158 times since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Polish media outlet Vot Tak reported.
The strikes were carried out using a combination of missiles and drones, the analysis from Vot Tak said, and targeted at least 24 of Russia’s 33 oil refineries capable of processing at least 1 million tons of oil per year.
The data compiled includes all major refineries located within the European part of Russia.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian energy facilities are valid military targets because revenues fuel the Kremlin's war machine.
Ukrainian officials have not issued remarks on the Polish report.
US defence officials confused over Trump's troop announcement for Poland
Friday 22 May 2026 07:12 , Arpan Rai
US defence officials are still wrapping their heads around the Trump administration’s announcement of pulling back and deploying troops to Poland.
Donald Trump on Thursday said the US will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, just weeks after he said he was reducing – not increasing – the American military footprint in Europe.
As of last week, some 4,000 troops from the Army’s 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were no longer en route to Poland.
The canceled deployment was part of an effort to comply with Trump's order to reduce the number of troops in Europe. A deployment to Germany of personnel trained to fire long-range missiles also was halted.
US defence officials expressed confusion about Trump's new announcement.
“We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement," one official told AP. "We don’t know what this means either.”
“There seems to be no process to deliberating policies like troop withdrawals and deployments at the top,” said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat who served as US ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and first Trump administrations and now teaches international relations at Northwestern University in Illinois.
Kelly said Marco Rubio may have a tough time in explaining Trump’s wild swings to Europeans who are craving certainty and consistency even if they might disagree.
“These are not well thought out decisions,” Kelly said. “These are impulsive decisions based on Trump’s whims or what his advisors think are Trump’s whims,” he said.
Starmer's ex-chief of staff McSweeney to warn of Russia's AI misuse in Ukraine
Friday 22 May 2026 06:58 , Arpan Rai
Morgan McSweeney, prime minister Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, is heading to Prague for a rare public appearance as he is set to warn people over the danger posed by artificial intelligence in elections.
He will be especially focussing on how AI could be a weapon for Russia to interfere with any future elections in Ukraine, reported Politico.
McSweeney resigned as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in February after taking “full responsibility” for advising the prime minister to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
The ex-Downing Street official will be appearing on a panel alongside media executives and polling specialists on Friday.
He also spoke about AI earlier this year at the Kyiv Security Forum.
Nato chief asks Ukraine's allies to spend more to help Kyiv
Friday 22 May 2026 06:23 , Arpan Rai
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has called on Ukraine's allies to offer more support, as he called out some member nations for a lack of spending.
Expenditure to back Ukraine's defence “is not evenly distributed within Nato,” with “a limited” group of countries leading the effort – Sweden, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark – but many others “not spending enough when it comes to the support for Ukraine,” Rutte said.
Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson also underlined the concerns and said that Stockholm is the third largest donor and “it would be far better if more countries competed with the our size of support”.
“We need to be long term and firm in our support. So I really would like more countries that speak so extremely well about Ukraine to also put the money where the mouth is,” he said.
Power outages recorded in Ukraine's Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia region
Friday 22 May 2026 06:14 , Arpan Rai
The Russia-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region was experiencing emergency power blackouts this morning, Russia-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky was quoted as saying by the Kommersant newspaper.
However, critical infrastructure was working as usual, he said, without providing further details, according to Kommersant.
Separately, the Russia-appointed head of the parts of southern Kherson region held by Russian forces, Vladimir Saldo, said on Telegram that nine areas were cut off the power grid after drone attacks.
It is not immediately clear what was causing the power cut but the region has been facing an increased number of attacks from Russian forces and military responses from Ukrainian forces fighting for the territory.
Russia launches nuclear war games on Europe’s doorstep as Nato issues stark warning
Friday 22 May 2026 05:56 , Arpan Rai
Russia has begun nuclear war games and moved Iskander-M missiles into Belarus, on the doorstep of the European Union. Ukraine has rushed troops to its northern border, and Nato has condemned the threatening moves.
Russia’s ministry of defence issued a press release and video footage to ensure that the threat against Ukraine and its allies was clear.
Ria Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned news site, said: “Since May 18, Belarus has begun training in the combat use of nuclear weapons and their provision by military units. It involves the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the Long-Range Aviation Command, as well as part of the forces of the Leningrad and Central Military Districts.”
Sam Kiley reports:
Russia launches nuclear war games on Europe’s doorstep as Nato issues stark warning
Why are Ukrainian drones targeting Russian facilities in Black Sea?
Friday 22 May 2026 05:46 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Baltic Sea ports used for Russian energy exports in an attempt to hit Moscow’s war chest at a time US president Donald Trump’s war in Iran has driven up the price of oil, a key revenue stream for the Kremlin.
The sustained drone offensive over the past few months has caused significant disruption to Ukraine's Baltic allies, with one drone crashing into the chimney of a power plant in Estonia, another hitting empty fuel tanks in Latvia and others being shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Nordic and Baltic nations have increasingly warned about electronic interference from Russia disrupting communications with planes, ships and drones.
In the Baltic region, Russia often uses jamming and spoofing to send drones off course.
Ukraine's intensifying attacks against Russia have focused on arms factories, ports on the Baltic Sea and energy facilities as the war in Iran has boosted oil prices.
It has particularly targeted the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, close to the borders of Estonia and Finland. Russia uses the ports to load up ships taking its oil exports through the Baltic Sea.
During one attack in May, which set part of the port of Primorsk on fire, more than 60 Ukrainian drones were shot down, Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko said.
