Firefighters at apartments damaged by a Russian drone strike, Kharkiv, Ukraine, May 2, 2025

Friday’s Coverage: Zelensky Hails Minerals Deal…But Trump Demotes Top Advisor Waltz

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1651 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Putin’s declaration of a three-day “ceasefire” from May 8-11 as a “theatrical performance”, seeking to ease Russia’s international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

Russia marks May 9 as the day of triumph over Germany in World War II. There is a large ceremony and military parade with Moscow, with the Kremlin hoping to host international leaders.

Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s support for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which is also backed by the Trump Administration.

Russia has repreatedly rejected the halt to its attacks.

“They kill until the 7th, pause for a couple of comfortable days, then start attacking again on the 11th,” Zelensky said.

An unconditional ceasefire is a model that the Americans have proposed. We are following it. From this date or another date, preferably earlier.

Yes, let’s try 30 days. Why a 30-day ceasefire? Because it is impossible to agree on anything in three, five, seven days.

Zelensky also said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend the Victory Day parade.

Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation.

They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.

He noted that the Kremlin could orchestrate provocations, including “arsons, explosions, or other actions”, and then attempt to blame Ukraine.

When countries reach out to us, we must clearly state: ‘We do not recommend visiting Russia from a (security) standpoint. And if you choose to go, that is your personal decision — do not ask us for guarantees.”

UPDATE 1050 GMT:

A Ukrainian naval drone has downed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near Russia’s port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.

The strike, the first time a maritime UAV has taken out a warplane, was carried out by a special unit within Ukraine’s military intelligence service HUR.

The multi-role Su-30 fighter, valued at approximately $50 million, was reportedly hit in mid-air and crashed into the sea.

Ukraine had used the Magura V5 drone to down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters last December 31 in a world-first drone strike on airborne targets from the sea.

Local Russian officials claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Krasnodar region in southwest Russia injured four people and damaged homes and a grain terminal in Novorossiysk. A state of emergency was declared in the city.

UPDATE 1028 GMT:

At least five civilians were killed and 61 injured by Russian drone attacks across Ukraine since Friday night.

Air defenses downed 77 of 183 drones, and 73 were lost to electronic counter-measures.

The Russians also fired two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

In Kharkiv city in the northeast, 51 people, including two children aged 11 and 16, were injured late Friday. Russian forces launched at least 15 Geran-2 drones, triggering fires and widespread destruction across four districts (see Original Entry).

One person was killed elsewhere in the Kharkiv region. In neighboring Donetsk, four were slain and eight injured.

Casualties were also reported in the Sumy and Mykolaiv regions.

UPDATE 0637 GMT:

US officials have completed new economic sanctions against Russia, including banking and energy measures, to press Moscow to end its invasion of Ukraine.

However, it is unclear if Donald Trump will approve the measures, according to “three US officials and a source familiar with the issue”.

The targets of the sanctions include State-owned energy giant Gazprom and major entities involved in the natural resources and banking sectors, said an administration official.

UPDATE 0613 GMT:

Men from Togo, in west Africa, have been captured fighting alongside Russian invaders in Ukraine.

Togo’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that the “majority of compatriots, in particular young students, had left Togo under alleged scholarships offered by structures claiming to be based in Russia”.

The Martin Luther King Movement, Togo’s leading human rights organisation, alerted authorities in March to a Togolese student captured on the battlefield and imprisoned in Ukraine.

UPDATE 0606 GMT:

With the Trump Administration lifting its suspension on delivery of military aid to Ukraine, the US Air Force has transferred decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to supply spare parts for aircraft donated by European partners.

The transfer is part of a $310 million package which also includes training and technical support.

The warplanes, retired from U.S. service, cannot be flown on operational missions.

Stripped-down F-16 airframes were loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane on April 26. They were taken from Tucson International Airport in Arizona to Poland’s Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key logistics hub for Western military assistance to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Administration officials informed Congress of the intention to allow the export of defense-related products through direct commercial sales of $50 million or more.

Donald Trump had ordered the suspension of deliveries of the aid, authorized during the Biden Administration, as the US pursued direct talks with Russia in February.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least 47 civilians, including an 11-year-old child, have been injured by a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv.

The Russians struck 12 locations in four central districts late Friday. A high-rise apartment block and homes were hit and fires were started.

At least eight victims are in hospital.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky responded:

There were no military targets, nor could there have been. Russia is striking residential areas precisely when Ukrainians are at home, when they are putting their children to bed.

Only fiends could give such orders and carry them out. While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defense.

Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners — the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace. Only strength and sanctions will force Russia to stop.

Russia failed to capture Kharkiv, 30 km (19 miles) from the border in northeast Ukraine, in the first days of its 38-month invasion. Since then, it has regularly targeted the city and its civilians with missiles, bombs, drones, and artillery.

A month ago, attacks just before and on Good Friday killed and wounded more than 100 civilians.

Ukraine War, Day 1,150: Russia Missiles Kill 1, Injure 112+ in Kharkiv on Good Friday