Ukraine war: Record Russian missile attacks, Ukrainian gains, Putin accuses UK
Where things stand
Updated May 11, 06:31 AMRussia launched one of the largest combined drone and missile attacks on Kyiv, involving more than 800 munitions, while a rare daytime strike killed four in the Cherkasy region. The Russian advance slowed to 244 square kilometers in December 2025, holding roughly 20% of Ukraine. Ukraine is leveraging a block on Russian access to Starlink for counterattacks. The UN reports nearly 15,000 civilian deaths and 40,600 injuries since February 2022; Ukrainian military losses stand at 55,000 killed. Peace talks are deadlocked over Moscow's demand that Kyiv cede remaining Donbas territories. The UK has pledged £150 million in military support, and a US-backed plan proposes territorial concessions.
Open questions
- Will the three-day Victory Day ceasefire be re-established or lead to sustained negotiations?Open since May 10, 2026
- How is the restriction on Russian Starlink access affecting the Ukrainian counteroffensive?Open since February 1, 2026
- What are the specific territorial and security provisions of the US-backed peace plan?Open since November 1, 2025
- Will European countries increase military aid in response to the massive drone attacks?Open since May 6, 2026
- Can Ukraine sustain its campaign of strikes on Russian oil infrastructure?Open since January 1, 2024
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
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: 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.