The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) may have gained access to the phone data of activist Vitaliy Shabunin's wife following a court ruling — a development that the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center's executive board sees as yet another sign of pressure aimed at curtailing his work. Days after the move in late April, Shabunin told the Kyiv Independent he had no idea why the SBI would need his wife's mobile data or how it was relevant to the criminal cases opened against him. "It's ha

When a Russian drone strike set a high-rise across the street on fire just after midnight on May 4, 34-year-old veteran Petro Kryvoruka shook his wife, Halyna, awake in their Kyiv apartment. As the buzzing of drones continued, he braced for another explosion. "I told (my wife), ‘Something is coming, it must be nearby,'" Kryvoruka told the Kyiv Independent the morning after the attack. "We decided to move to the corridor." Moments later, more explosions rocked Kyiv’s Obolon district, in the nor

According to the SBU, the attack on Serhii Sternenko was an attempted assassination involving a firearm. His life is not in danger.

During the examination in Ukraine, it turned out that journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna's brain, eyes, and part of the trachea had been removed, the investigation said.

Russia's Interior Ministry drafted a bill on granting asylum to foreigners unable to uphold so-called "traditional family values" in their home countries, the Russian state-controlled RBC news agency reported on April 29, citing the document and an undisclosed source.

The government approved the appointments of three deputy defense ministers to ensure "greater efficiency and agility" in the ministry's work and boost ties with foreign partners, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on April 29.

"I think it must be clear for everybody... especially for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, that we will stand with Ukraine. We will support Ukraine and... offer Ukraine the opportunity to be on level with Russia," German Foreign Minister-designate Johann Wadephul said.

According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian air defense shot down 91 Ukrainian drones, including eight over Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and 11 over Ryazan Oblast. Drones were also downed in Kursk, Oryol, Moscow, Belgorod, Kaluga, Bryansk oblast and in Russian-occupied Crimea, the ministry reported.

"Over the years of war and Russian attacks on our energy system, Ukraine has gained significant experience in overcoming any energy challenges, including blackouts," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again sent ripples of concern around Ukraine, this time by saying he "thinks" President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to give up occupied Crimea as part of a peace deal to end Russia's full-scale invasion. Trump's comments, if taken at face value, suggest Zelensky is aligned with the U.S., which is reportedly considering a de jure recognition of Russia's control over Crimea as part of a potential peace deal, and de facto control over other occupied territories

The pilot ejected and is receiving medical attention, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Moscow is waiting for a signal from Kyiv to resume bilateral peace negotiations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 28, even as Russia continues its regular attacks on Ukraine.

"Negotiating with the war criminal Putin is evidently futile," a statement signed by officials from eight countries said.

“According to available data, the explosion occurred as a result of the detonation of a homemade explosive device,” the Investigative Committee of Russia said.

Ukrainian forces downed 41 out of the 103 Shahed-type drones and other drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.