Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces launch daytime assault on Ukrainian city with hundreds of drones

Russia has launched more than 400 drones at Ukraine in a daytime attack, injuring 10 people in the western city of Ternopil, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.

Ukraine's air force said the onslaught took place between 8 am and 3.30 pm local time as air force units downed or neutralised 388 of them in the north, south, centre and west of the country.

It follows a Ukrainian attack on a major oil refinery in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse for the fourth time in two weeks. The overnight strike caused a fire but there were no injuries.

Meanwhile, Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, injuring at least 20 people and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten.

Russia said it would implement a temporary ceasefire around Victory Day on 9 May regardless of Ukraine’s response. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the truce “will be implemented” and that “a response is not, in fact, required”.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as insufficient, saying Ukraine supported a longer-term ceasefire rather than “a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow”.

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Trump orders US to pull thousands of troops out of Germany after row with Merz

The United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from Nato ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between ⁠Donald Trump and Europe.

Mr Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the US in talks to end the two-month-old war.

A senior Pentagon ⁠official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ​recent ⁠German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful".

"The president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," the official said.

Trump orders US to pull thousands of troops out of Germany after row with Merz

A senior Pentagon official said recent rhetoric from Germany was ‘unhelpful’Arpan Rai2 May 2026 07:50

Residents warned over air quality and drinking water in Russia's Tuapse

Residents in Tuapse have been advised to stay indoors and avoid drinking tap water following recent drone strikes on the port. Russia’s consumer safety watchdog cited raised benzene levels in the air and urged people to limit time outside and keep windows closed.

The continuing attacks on the Russian refinery, which has been hit four times now and set ablaze at least twice since 16 April, have led to dense black clouds over the town and oil slicks along the coastline, damaging the popular beach destination.

Local health authorities said residents should use bottled water as a precaution. Schools have been closed and May holiday events cancelled.

Some residents have questioned official assurances.

“How about she comes to visit us and tries our fresh air?” one person wrote online, responding to claims from Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova that the situation posed no health risks.

Arpan Rai2 May 2026 07:20

US ambassador to Ukraine steps down after ‘differences of opinion with Trump’

Donald Trump’s acting ambassador to Ukraine will step down from her post and retire after less than a year in the role.

The State Department confirmed on Tuesday that Davis would leave in June before retiring from the department, following reports she was quitting over differences of opinion with Trump.

People familiar with her decision told the Financial Times that Davis, who has served as temporary chargé d’affaires at the embassy since May, had grown frustrated by Washington’s dwindling support for Ukraine as peace talks with Russia have stalled.

US ambassador to Ukraine steps down after ‘clashing with Trump’

The four-year war continues to rage with US-led efforts to end the war on holdArpan Rai2 May 2026 06:50

Russia targets Ukrainian cities in overnight strikes

Several strikes were reported from Ukraine after Russian forces launched overnight drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure, regional officials said.

The strikes targeted Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa Oblasts, officials said.

Russia targeted port infrastructure in Izmail, a city in southern Odesa Oblast.

In Mykolaiv, Russian forces hit the energy infrastructure with Shahed-type attack drones, said Vitaliy Kim, head of the regional military administration.

In Kryvyi Rih, Russian drones targeted an infrastructure facility overnight, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, said. Explosions were heard across the city, according to local residents.

No casualties were immediately reported in the attacks, according to the preliminary assessment.

Arpan Rai2 May 2026 06:20

Ukraine says a strike hit Russian Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse

Ukrainian forces struck an oil terminal in the Russian Black Sea city of Tuapse, Ukraine's General Staff said on Friday, marking the fourth attack targeting the region's oil infrastructure in just over two weeks.

Explosions and a fire were recorded at the terminal, the statement from the General Staff said. Local officials in Russia said a Ukrainian drone attack sparked the blaze and that no casualties were reported.

The facility had been hit previously on 16 April, 20 April and 28 April.

Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said a fire at the city's oil refinery had also been extinguished Thursday, less than 24 hours before the latest strike.

Arpan Rai2 May 2026 05:55

Watch: Trump says he thinks it’s 'treasonous' to say US is not winning war in Iran

Daniel Keane2 May 2026 03:00

US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany

The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Nato ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President ⁠Donald Trump and Europe.

Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the US in talks to end the two-month-old war.

A senior Pentagon ⁠official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ​recent ⁠German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful."

Daniel Keane2 May 2026 02:00

Ukraine says strike hit Russian Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse

Ukrainian forces struck an oil terminal in the Russian Black Sea city of Tuapse, Ukraine's General Staff said on Friday, marking the fourth attack targeting the region's oil infrastructure in just over two weeks.

Explosions and a fire were recorded at the terminal, the statement from the General Staff said.

Local officials in Russia said a Ukrainian drone attack sparked the blaze and that no casualties were reported.

The facility had been hit previously on April 16, April 20 and April 28. Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said a fire at the city's oil refinery had also been extinguished Thursday, less than 24 hours before the latest strike.

Daniel Keane2 May 2026 01:00

Recap: Fire erupts again at major Black Sea port oil refinery after fourth Ukrainian attack

Ukraine attacked a major oil refinery in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse for the fourth time in two weeks as it continued to intensify a campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

The overnight strike caused a fire but there were no injuries. The area has been under a state of emergency since earlier strikes disrupted production and polluted coastal areas.

Meanwhile, Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, injuring at least 20 people and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten.

Russia said it would implement a temporary ceasefire around Victory Day on 9 May regardless of Ukraine’s response. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the truce “will be implemented” and that “a response is not, in fact, required”.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as insufficient, saying Ukraine supported a longer-term ceasefire rather than “a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow”.

James Reynolds2 May 2026 00:00

Russian drone attack injures 10, causes blackouts

A Russian daytime drone attack on the city of Ternopil, in Ukraine's far west, injured 10 and hit industrial and infrastructure facilities, the city's mayor said on Friday.

The attack also caused blackouts in some areas, Serhiy Nadal said on Telegram, adding that over 50 drones had been involved.

James Reynolds1 May 2026 23:00NewerOlder

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