While Ukraine faces a shortage of troops, Russia still hasn’t achieved its long-standing goal of occupying Donetsk - the aim when it launched its invasion in 2014. Its summer offensive, Whiting said, will likely begin with a “soft launch”, ramping up steadily in size and scope.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has been briefed on a Moscow move to capture the Ukrainian region of Sumy, next to the frontier.

Russian attacks in Ukraine since January 2025 have killed and injured more civilians than in the same period in 2024. Get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. Join our movement today.

Russia overnight into Sunday launched one of its most intense drone attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, with at least one person killed in Kyiv.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv this morning, May 16. Air defense forces and equipment were active in the capital in response to the Russian drone attack, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration and Kyiv Mayor,

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its forces seized two more settlements in their drive through eastern Ukraine, but Kyiv made no such acknowledgement and its top commander said battles raged over 1,