Russia-Ukraine war update day 1161 key developments

On Tuesday night, waves of Russian drones targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro, killing at least one person and injuring 38 others, including two children. Russian authorities also announced the capture of Doroshivka, a village in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region.

In Sumy province, the regional governor stated that Russian forces are attempting to establish a buffer zone along the border with Russia’s Kursk region, though they have made no major advances.

Earlier the same day, Ukrainian officials reported a drone strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed a 12-year-old girl. Three people were also wounded in Kyiv. Authorities have ordered evacuations of seven villages in eastern Dnipropetrovsk, once considered far from the fighting but now increasingly under threat.

Inside Russia, a Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle in the Belgorod region near the border, killing two and injuring three, according to the local governor. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 91 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 40 in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that due to Russian attacks over the winter, Ukraine lost nearly half of its domestic gas production and continues to rely on imports to fill the gap.

Diplomacy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again appealed for a full and unconditional ceasefire following Moscow’s announcement of a temporary three-day truce (May 8–10) to commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II. Speaking at a summit in Warsaw, Zelenskyy also warned that Russia may use upcoming military drills in Belarus as a pretext for new actions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that Washington could step back from its mediating role unless both sides present tangible plans for peace. Rubio’s office clarified that the US is pushing for a lasting ceasefire, not a symbolic pause for celebrations. US officials described this week as critical for advancing peace talks.

Meanwhile, Russia dismissed Ukraine’s proposal to extend the ceasefire from three to 30 days, citing unresolved issues that prevent a longer-term agreement.

At the UN Security Council, political chief Rosemary DiCarlo welcomed recent diplomatic efforts, calling them a “glimmer of hope” for a ceasefire and eventual peace. France and the UK voiced support for US mediation and condemned Russian attacks on civilians claims that Moscow denied.

France further accused Russia’s military intelligence of launching cyberattacks since 2021 on French ministries, defense companies, and think tanks to sow instability.

Politics

The European investigative group Forbidden Stories reported that Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died while in Russian custody, had been tortured and had organs removed before her body was returned.

A Russian court sentenced a man to 27 years for attempting to poison military pilots at a graduation party, allegedly under Ukrainian orders.

Ukraine detained several defense officials accused of providing the military with defective mortar shells.

In Latvia, a citizen received a six-year prison sentence for joining Russian forces in Ukraine, according to the national prosecutor.