Ukraine war: Record Russian missile attacks, Ukrainian gains, Putin accuses UK
Where things stand
Updated May 11, 12:16 PMOn May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the war is 'coming to an end' and proposed former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator; European leaders rejected the move. The same day, Germany and Ukraine signed a 'Brave Germany' defence technology programme to bolster drone and deep-strike capabilities. A temporary ceasefire agreed on May 8 collapsed by May 10 as both sides accused each other of violations. The latest violence included a Russian drone strike on a Sumy kindergarten that killed one woman and a series of attacks that left 27 dead nationwide. Ukrainian forces, including the Azov unit, struck Russian logistics near Mariupol with long-range drones.
Open questions
- Will Putin's proposal for Schröder as mediator gain traction with Ukraine or Western powers?Open since May 11, 2026
- What are the specific capabilities and scope of the 'Brave Germany' programme?Open since May 11, 2026
- What is the status of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine?Open since May 6, 2026
- How will Latvia's defense minister resignation affect NATO's response to cross-border drone incidents?Open since May 7, 2026
- Will a lasting ceasefire be achievable given repeated violations?Open since May 10, 2026
- What is the current frontline situation after the Russian advance slowed to 244 sq km in December 2025?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Russian forces gained 1,910.39 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine in May, June, July, and August 2025.
114 sourcesacross 27 articlesRussia carried out a rare daytime drone attack on Ukraine, killing four people in the Cherkasy region and damaging energy infrastructure and industrial facilities in the west.
86 sourcesacross 16 articlesSome 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
58 sourcesacross 10 articlesRussian commercial vessels can be co-opted by the military for any purpose, as declared by the Russian government in summer 2022.
57 sourcesacross 11 articlesVladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022 after years of tension, amassing troops and making demands rejected by the West, with stated reasons including false claims of genocide against Russian speakers.
55 sourcesacross 10 articles
Timeline50
Ukrainian drone unit Lasar-gruppen discovered and attacked a hidden Russian storage area.
Thousands of Colombian volunteers, estimated between 3,000 and 7,000, have fought in Ukraine since 2022, with one fighter describing his experiences.
2026-05-10: Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating a three-day ceasefire; Ukraine reports nearly 150 battlefield clashes, Russia claims Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks.
2026-05-10: Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating a three-day ceasefire; 51 Russian attacks reported, Ukrainian strikes in Belgorod kill two, injure six.
2026-05-08: Russia and Ukraine agree to a temporary ceasefire, per NRK Urix.
The Dossier Center reports that a presentation was held for the inner circle of Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, outlining how a compromise solution to the war in Ukraine could be marketed as a victo
2026-05-08: Ukrainian forces, including Azov unit, struck Russian logistics near Mariupol with Hornet drones up to 104 km behind front lines.
2026-05-08: Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Victory Day ceasefires, with both sides reporting hundreds of strikes.
Ukraine resumes oil pumping through the damaged Druzhba pipeline, per Ukrainian source.
2026-05-07: Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds resigned after two drones, likely Ukrainian, crossed into Latvia and crashed.
2026-05-07: Ukrainian attack on Bryansk injures 13; Moscow downs three drones.
Russia appears to reject Ukraine's ceasefire proposal, shelling Sumy preschool shortly after truce was to begin.
Russia demands return of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine in Kursk, per Ukrainian official.
2026-05-06: UK's most senior army officer, Field Marshal Lord Richards, warns Ukraine cannot win without NATO forces joining the fight, saying Western allies gave Ukraine false hope.
2026-05-06: Deadly airstrike hits Kramatorsk while emergency crews battle fires.
2026-05-05: Russian shelling kills nine in Zaporizhzhia.
Military expert says Russia abandons 'meat grinder' assaults amid troop replenishment difficulties.
Ukraine claims to have developed a method to disrupt Russia's Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, previously considered nearly unstoppable.
Ukrainian drones attack Russian port city of Primorsk, causing a fire that is extinguished.
Ukraine claims drone strike damages Russian Su-57 stealth fighters at Shagol airbase, 1,700 km from Ukraine.
Russian forces attempt to gain foothold as fighting reaches outskirts of Kostiantynivka.
Russia may cancel military vehicle portion of Victory Day parade in Moscow, reducing to foot march with few hundred guests, due to Ukrainian drone strikes.
2026-04-28: Ukraine extends martial law for the 19th time, maintaining curfews and travel ban for men 23-60; elections remain postponed.