Stories from kyiv · Ukraine

Parents of children with disabilities under 18 can now apply for benefits online via the RezervPlus application. Single parents raising children under 18 and individuals caring for a parent with a first or second-group disability can also use the digital service.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates last week. These agreements follow reports of nightly drone barrages involving hundreds of units. Ukraine is turning to Middle Eastern nations for defense deals as US and EU aid slows. Germany and Ukraine have also signed military agreements regarding Patriot missile systems. This follows reports of Ukraine facing barrages of 600 to 700 drones per night in recent years. The agreements reportedly include 10-year terms and involve sharing drone expertise. Ukrainian experts have been sent to the United Arab Emirates to assist with these efforts. The cooperation aims to achieve local military superiority amidst a battlefield characterized by high transparency. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a presidential decree on April 30 to initiate instructions regarding Belarus.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on social media that Ukraine won a battle using drone innovation. Soldiers in these positions face life-threatening conditions without immediate access to rations or ammunition. The exact number of monthly deaths on both sides of the conflict remains difficult to determine. These vehicles aim to solve the challenge of extracting wounded soldiers when manual retrieval is too dangerous or slow. These vehicles are intended for use in sterile zones located 20 to 30 kilometers on either side of the front line. The development comes amid high casualty rates, with estimates suggesting between 10,000 and 15,000 Russian casualties per month, while Ukrainian figures are reported to be considerably lower. The BBC noted Ukraine's technological innovation and advantages in defense manufacturing during the ongoing war.

A man allegedly extorted money from a 75-year-old female artist in Kyiv by posing as a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) employee. The suspect reportedly contacted the woman and convinced her she was under investigation for treason. The Office of the General Prosecutor and the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office have reported on the matter. Police in Kyiv detained a 36-year-old man for allegedly extorting a folk artist of over 6 million hryvnias. The victim reportedly handed over 128,000 dollars and approximately 400,000 hryvnias to the suspect. The individual is currently in custody.

The Anti-Corruption Council has urged the removal of Umerov due to alleged links to a sanctioned businessman. The head of the Anti-Corruption Council of the Ministry of Defense, Yuriy Hodymenko, has called for the removal of the Ministry's Secretary. The Council alleges a conflict of interest regarding weapons exports. This follows a statement made by Hodymenko on Radio Sloboda Vindyakoz. The recordings allegedly show Umirov sharing state secrets with Mindich or providing consultation. President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly declined to dismiss Umirov despite pressure from opposition deputies, activists, and government representatives.

Ukraine has finalized the initial stage of its cyber defense initiatives with a budget of 55 million UAH.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he is ready to declare a temporary ceasefire in honor of Victory Day on May 9. Iranian military advisor Rezaei and advisor Mohbelli both issued statements on April 30 asserting that Iran will not lose control of the Hormuz Strait despite maritime blockade threats. Iran's supreme leader issued a statement saying Tehran will eliminate what he described as the enemy's abuses of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian proposal suggested delaying nuclear talks to a later stage. Vladimir Putin has proposed that Ukraine declare a temporary ceasefire to coincide with Russia's Victory Day celebrations, according to Radio Svoboda. The announcement was made on April 30, 2026. The discussion also touched upon Russia's claims regarding the destruction of Ukraine's military-industrial complex and miltech sector. The date is May 5th.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi has ordered the mandatory rotation of soldiers from front-line positions. A Russian soldier from the Storm Z battalion, Vyacheslav Delyagin, has provided testimony regarding orders to execute prisoners. The testimony follows the capture of the 12th Brigade of the Azov special purpose unit. The video was reportedly recorded in field conditions and was uploaded to the Azov YouTube channel in October. Delyagin reportedly stated that the group was instructed to shoot prisoners rather than take them captive. Ramzan Kadyrov stated he issued orders to his military units not to take prisoners but to destroy them. The source noted that Kadyrov allegedly rescinded the order three days later. Russian political and military leadership have not commented on the killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to the report.

Ukraine has added vaccination against Casanova infection to the list of immunizations covered by the state budget. Implementation of the Casanova vaccine rollout is reportedly not going according to plan. The country ceased using the Kraup Lukvorot vaccine on January 1.

The Civil Society Council at the Ministry of Defense is calling for the dismissal of National Security Secretary Umerova. This demand follows the publication of leaked transcripts from the MIDA operation.