July 26, 2026

Ukraine Watch

Ukraine and Russia Declare Separate Truces– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser May 5, 2026 1

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Russia on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine between May 8-9, when Moscow holds its annual World War II Victory Day commemorations, and threatened a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if Ukraine violated it.

Ukraine responded by declaring a truce of its own between May 5-6, saying it was “not serious” to expect it to observe a ceasefire during a Russian military holiday.

The quarrelling between the two sides comes with a lull in U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, as Washington shifts its focus to conflict in the Middle East.

Russian strikes killed nine people across Ukraine on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, while a Ukrainian drone crashed into a high-rise building in an upscale Moscow neighborhood overnight.

“In accordance with a decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared from May 8–9, 2026… We hope that the Ukrainian side will follow suit,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on state-backed messaging service MAX.

Russia Lost Ground in Ukraine in April, a First Since Mid-2023 – AFP Analysis– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser May 5, 2026 0

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Russia lost more territory than it gained in Ukraine in April for the first time since a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) showed.

Moscow ceded control of about 120 square kilometers (46 square miles) between March and April, the ISW data revealed.

Despite the fighting at the front reaching a near stalemate, intense and deadly drone-dominated attacks have continued unabated in recent months, while U.S.-led talks on the conflict have stalled as the Middle East war grinds on.

Putin issues ‘nuclear’ missile warning to Ukraine over Red Square parade | World | News– www.express.co.uk

pgnewser May 5, 2026 0

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Vladimir Putin has threatened Kyiv with his most massive strike of the war if Ukrainian drones disrupt his major military parade in Moscow on Saturday. His defence ministry warned that civilians and diplomats should leave the city promptly if Volodymyr Zelensky attacks the Red Square showpiece, citing a rapid and massive retaliatory missile strike.

The Russian warning implies a hit by the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, which Putin boasts has the power of a full nuclear explosion even in its conventional mode. Putin said previously that using several such systems at once would be comparable in strength to a nuclear strike. His favourite newspaper, Komsomolskaya Pravda, warned today that Oreshnik also has a nuclear configuration.

Vladimir Putin has threatened Kyiv with the most massive strike of the war if Ukrainian drones disrupt his major military parade in Moscow this Saturday. His defence ministry warned that civilians and diplomats should leave the city promptly if Volodymyr Zelensky attacks the Red Square showpiece, citing a rapid and massive retaliatory missile strike.

King Charles III urges ‘unyielding resolve’ for Ukraine, praises NATO – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser April 29, 2026 0

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King Charles III delivered an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress Tuesday afternoon as part of his four-day visit to the U.S.

“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal,” he said. “It is irreplaceable and unbreakable.”

“The alliance that our two nations have built over the centuries, and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people, is truly unique,” he said, adding that it’s “more important today than it has ever been.”

Congressional leaders invited Charles to share his vision “for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history,” and ahead of the U.S.’ 250th anniversary of independence from British rule.

Desperate Russian troops ‘shooting down their OWN drones to claim battle bonuses’ after horror cannibal claims emerge– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser April 28, 2026 0

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HOPELESS Russian soldiers are reportedly shooting down their own drones and then disguising them as Ukrainian aircraft so they can claim battle bonuses.

It comes as horror claims emerge that Vladimir Putin’s soldiers are turning to cannibalism as they run low on provisions.

Russian soldiers are reportedly accidentally shooting down their own drones Credit: EPA
Miscommunication means firing units mistake their own drones for Ukrainian aircraft Credit: Getty

Russians shoot down their own drones due to coordination failures and administrative confusion, United24 Media reported.

But Mad Vlad’s desperate lads are then pretending to have taken down Ukrainian drones so that they can claim cash rewards.

Pro-Russian media describe the situation as a “time bomb”, expressing fears that nearly all of Putin’s drones could soon come under attack from his own hapless soldiers.

Nuclear drills by France, Poland will not intimidate Russia, lawmaker says – Russian Politics & Diplomacy– tass.com

pgnewser April 24, 2026 0

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MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. Joint nuclear exercises by France and Poland will not intimidate Moscow, Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Committee on Defense, told TASS.

The media reported earlier that Paris and Warsaw planned to conduct joint air force exercises over the Baltic Sea involving Rafale fighter jets “equipped with nuclear warheads” to simulate strikes against targets in Russia.

“As for these drills, it’s absolutely clear to us that using aircraft and nuclear weapons against a country that has the world’s best air and missile defenses would in fact mean nuclear suicide. That said, these drills cannot intimidate us, but such plans mean that our relations with France and Poland, which have always been far from perfect, are going to be even more unfriendly,” Kartapolov noted.

6 killed after gunman opens fire in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser April 20, 2026 0

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A gunman who killed at least six people in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, before taking hostages and barricading himself inside a supermarket on Saturday has been shot and killed by police, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukraine’s special tactical police units stormed the store after attempts to contact the gunman with a negotiator failed, the head of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, Ihor Klymenko, said in a statement on social media. The attacker was killed while resisting arrest, he said.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Klymenko said that the gunman had killed four bystanders while on the street, before entering the supermarket and killing a fifth person.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that a sixth victim, a young woman, died from her injuries in the hospital.

An Associated Press reporter on the scene saw the bodies of the victims in the street covered by emergency blankets before they were taken away.

Zelensky Says Oil Sanctions Relief Provides Billions for Russian Military– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser April 20, 2026 0

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday condemned the easing of sanctions on Russian oil after the United States extended a waiver meant to soften surging energy prices driven by the Middle East war.

“Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war” and is used for devastating strikes on Ukraine, Zelensky said in a post on X.

Zelensky did not mention the United States, but President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea.

The action was intended to bring down soaring energy prices. But the U.S. Treasury Department extension came two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waiver.

Zelenskyy hails Magyar’s win over Orbán as ‘the victory of light over darkness’ in Hungary – Europe live | World news– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser April 16, 2026 0

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Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the opposition win in Hungary as “the victory of light over darkness,” as he called for “pragmatic, friendly” relations with the new administration.

Speaking alongside the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said that he hoped for “pragmatic” and “friendly” relations with the new Magyar government – in sharp contrast with hostile Orbán administration.

“I am sure we will cooperate with Hungary,” he said, expressing hope Ukraine will be able to “build our relations” with the new government based on “cooperation” and “respect for each other.”

He said that the damaged Druzhba pipeline which has been at the heart of tensions between Ukraine and Hungary in recent months will be repaired by the end of April. “Not completely, but enough to function,” he said.

Zelenskyy also briefly commented on the outcome in the Hungarian election, saying:

“The elections when the Hungarian people made their choice were on Sunday, 12 April. In

Humans Surrender to Robots

pgnewser April 14, 2026 0

According to Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian troops surrendered to Ukrainian drones and robots, making it, allegedly, the world’s first human surrender to a robot in a field of battle.

Zelensky claimed the machines “carried out (the mission) without infantry and without losses on our side. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones.”

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces surrender to army robots in battlefield first, Zelensky says – www.independent.co.uk
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Over the past several months, Ukrainian forces have been increasingly deploying agile, remote-controlled armoured vehicles to carry out critical tasks and to protect personnel in hazardous operations.

The army uses these “robots on wheels,” which resemble miniature tanks, as it grapples with a soldier shortage in a conflict now spanning over three and a half years.

These versatile machines are capable of ferrying essential supplies, clearing dangerous mines, and evacuating both the wounded and the deceased.

Announcing the operation on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ratel, TerMIT, Ardal, Rys, Zmiy, Protector, Volia, and our other ground robotic systems have already carried out more than 22,000 missions on the front in just three months.

In other words, he said, lives were saved “more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous area instead of a warrior”.

Russian forces are also known to use robots on the battlefield.

“It cannot fully replace people,” said the commander of a platoon of the 20th Lyubart Brigade, who goes by the call sign Miami. “I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human it’s (sometimes) far too dangerous.”

Magyar’s remarks on energy supplies from Russia cause tensions in Kiev — media – World– tass.com

pgnewser April 14, 2026 0

Magyar’s remarks on energy supplies from Russia cause tensions in Kiev — media – World– tass.com
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MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. The stance of Peter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party – victorious in Hungary’s recent elections – regarding oil and gas supplies from Russia is poised to influence Hungary’s relations with Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian media outlet Strana.

The publication suggests that Magyar’s apparent intention to preserve Russian energy imports could be a significant source of tension between the two nations.

Russian troops continue special military operation after Easter truce ends — top brass – Russian Politics & Diplomacy– tass.com

pgnewser April 13, 2026 0

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Russian troops continue special military operation after Easter truce ends — top brass – Russian Politics & Diplomacy – tass.com
EXCERPT:

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Russian troops continued their special military operation in Ukraine after the Orthodox Easter truce ended, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

“With the end of the truce, the Russian Armed Forces continued the special military operation,” the ministry said in a statement.

All the Russian battlegroups strictly observed the ceasefire and stayed in their previously held positions, the ministry reported.

“In compliance with an order by the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces, all the battlegroups in the special military operation area strictly observed the ceasefire from 4:00 p.m. on April 11 to the end of April 12 and stayed in their previously held positions,” the ministry said.

PRIME MINISTER ORBÁN DROPS BOMBSHELL: Billions in Ukraine Aid Were Used for the Democrats Elections in the States– gellerreport.com

pgnewser April 7, 2026 0

Blurb:

In case you were still wondering why the Democrats were so militant about funding Ukraine and why Democrats and RINOs are now targeting Orban.

Watch Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, lay out explosive charges that Ukrainian funds were funneled through Europe to influence U.S. elections and benefit Democrats.This major scandal has serious legal and national security implications, raising urgent questions about foreign money, campaign integrity, and the handling of U.S. taxpayer funds tied to the Ukraine war.

WATCH:

Russia provided Iran with intelligence on Israeli energy sites, Ukraine says– www.euronews.com

pgnewser April 7, 2026 0

Blurb:

According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv has information that Moscow shared data on “some 50–53 facilities in total,” adding that these are civilian infrastructure sites with no military significance.

“It resembles the lives of Ukrainians under Russian attacks, when they target our energy grid or water supply systems,” Zelenskyy said.

“Of course, all the experience Russia has obtained during the war against Ukraine is being shared with Iran. This was the case with Shaheds, the same drones the Russians have, only used under a different name and upgraded to newer generations.”

Ukrainian forces operating in Libya have attacked a Russian tanker, officials say– abcnews.com

pgnewser April 7, 2026 0

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CAIRO — Ukrainian forces are operating in western Libya under a covert deal endorsed by the West, and they used the Northern African country’s territory to strike a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean last month, two Libyan officials said Tuesday.

The Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz, carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, was badly damaged in a suspected sea drone attack near Maltese waters early in March. It has since drifted off Libya. All 30 crew members were rescued and put on another vessel heading to the Libyan city of Benghazi, the Libyan Maritime Authority said.

Iran Rejects U.S Ceasefire Push as Trump Signals Path to End Conflict– slaynews.com

pgnewser March 26, 2026 0

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Iran’s regime is publicly rejecting a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, escalating tensions even as President Donald Trump signals a willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict.

State-run outlets in Tehran reported Wednesday that Iran “will not accept a ceasefire offer from the United States.”

The rejection underscores the regime’s refusal to de-escalate despite mounting international pressure.

10 Ukrainians Humbled Two NATO Battalions. When Will NATO Wake Up?– warontherocks.com

pgnewser March 26, 2026 0

Blurb:

Last May, NATO invited 10 Ukrainians to act as an opposing force during Hedgehog 2025, one of NATO’s largest exercises in the Baltics. The Ukrainians successfully simulated the destruction of 17 armored vehicles and conducted 30 strikes in half a day, effectively neutralizing two NATO battalions before dinner. One observing commander summed up the broader implication in three words: “We are finished.” Ominously, the exercise occurred without American forces.

The Western debate on Ukraine is sometimes framed as an act of generosity, with NATO propping up a beleaguered partner. This perspective is wrong and dangerously blind to a strategic asset for the alliance hiding in plain sight. Ukraine’s expertise has already proven vital, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announcing that Ukrainian experts are deploying to the Middle East to assist in countering Iranian Shahed drones, offering the United States concrete solutions to an otherwise expensive problem. Four years ago, the West answered Ukraine’s call for military aid. Now, Ukraine is ready to answer back.

Russia, Ukraine tit-for-tat attacks knock out power for over half a million | Russia-Ukraine war News– www.aljazeera.com

pgnewser March 25, 2026 0

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Russia and Ukraine have targeted each other’s energy facilities in tit-for-tat attacks, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power, officials from both countries said, as the world’s attention has shifted to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Nearly half a ⁠million people were left without electricity in Russia’s Belgorod region, while 150,000 consumers ‌in the city of Chernihiv and surrounding areas were without power on Wednesday.

EU Delays Proposal to Permanently Ban Russian Oil– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 25, 2026 0

Blurb:

The European Union on Tuesday postponed the unveiling of a law that would permanently ban Russian oil imports, coming amid supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.

The April 15 unveiling date has reportedly been removed from the European Commission’s REPowerEU roadmap calendar.

EU Commission energy spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said a new date has not yet been determined, but stressed that Brussels remains “committed to making this proposal.”

Ukraine peace talks stall as Russia begins its spring offensive– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 24, 2026 0

Blurb:

After a few rounds of trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia, the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Moscow’s full-scale invasion has largely stalled with no clear progress in sight.

Kyiv’s delegation returned from two days of meetings in Miami with few tangible results, following what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a discussion over “the key points, opportunities and challenges”.

“The most important thing is to work out security guarantees in such a way that they bring us closer to ending the war. Security is the key to peace.”

Starmer says ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine amid Iran war during Zelenskyy visit– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Tuesday for talks on peace and sanctions on Russia.

The meeting comes at a time when the Iran war has revived Russia’s ailing economy through increased oil revenue, robbed US-brokered talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine of momentum and could soon limit Kyiv’s access to vital Western air defence systems that are needed in the Middle East.

“We can’t lose focus on what’s going on in Ukraine and the need for our support,” Starmer said alongside Zelenskyy for talks at 10 Downing Street, which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended.

“Putin can’t be the one who benefits from the conflict in Iran, whether that’s oil prices or the dropping of sanctions,” Starmer said. “It is really important we keep our resolve in relation to supporting Ukraine, doing everything we can to weaken the hand of Putin.”