Amy B. Zegart
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly led Poland’s presidential election on May 18, according to exit polls, but failed to secure an outright victory. He will face conservative Karol Nawrocki in a second-round runoff on June 1.
Trzaskowski, a senior …
European leaders will call U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his planned phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 18, according to Deutsche Welle (DW).
Trump announced that he plans to …
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan won the Romanian presidential election on May 18, defeating the far-right, anti-Ukraine George Simion.
With over 98% of the votes counted, Dan won …
Denmark has prepared its 26th military aid package for Ukraine, worth 4 billion Danish kroner (approximately $598 million), the Danish Defense Ministry announced on May 17.
The package includes additional artillery and shells via the Czech ammunition …
The Ukrainian Ground Forces are establishing a new corps-level formation, marking their 13th such unit. Multiple sources affiliated to the formation have confirmed its existence to MilitaryLand. The new unit…
Key developments on May 17-18:
In a geopolitical chessboard reshaped by global conflict and shifting alliances, Russia's touted "sovereignty" narrative seems increasingly hollow as Moscow grows more reliant on Beijing. With China in the driver's seat, forcing unfavorably one-sided …
The Russian Federation on May 18 detained an oil tanker sailing from the Estonian port of Sillamae, Estonia’s Foreign Ministry reported.
The incident comes three days after Russia reportedly violated NATO airspace with a fighter when Estonia …
U.S. President Donald Trump is becoming more impatient with Russia as he attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said at a press conference on May 18, according to the Finnish news outlet …
Belgium announces a military aid package for Ukraine valued at €1 billion. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Franken emphasized that €645 million of this assistance is homegrown. “Producing with our own industry ensures a substantial portion of funds …
Europe is “far from” discussing foreign troop deployment to Ukraine, as efforts focus on securing an unconditional ceasefire, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 17, Reuters reported.
“There is no reason to talk about …
Italy has prepared a new aid package for Ukraine. As part of the package, it is anticipated that the Italian version of tracked armored personnel carriers, the VCC-2 Camilino, derivative of the M113 type, will be handed over. Italy is also …
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 18, following the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, where the leaders discussed sanctions on Russia and recent peace talks in Istanbul.
The …
On the night of May 19, Russia will initiate the launch of its intercontinental ballistic missile, executing what will be termed a "combat-training" strike, announced announcement Ukraine's military intelligence on its Telegram channel.
The intended …
Ukraine’s General Staff initiated an internal investigation on May 18 following the resignation of Oleksandr Shyrshyn, commander of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, who criticized military leadership for what he described as senseless …
A significant controversy has erupted within the Ukrainian Defense Forces as Oleksandr Shirshyn, the commander of the 47th mechanized brigade's 1st mechanized battalion, has tendered his resignation amidst severe allegations against the Armed Forces' …
As Ukraine’s liberating forces advanced in the fall of 2022, several trucks stopped near the rear yard of the Kherson Local History Museum. Inside the building itself, dozens of people moved back and forth like ants through the corridors.
These …
Editor’s Note: We are dedicated to personal stories in the fight against authoritarianism. And not just about destruction – but also with a view for rebuilding what is destroyed.
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Russian forces have launched a record 273 drones, including Shahed attack drones and decoys, in a single day against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. This marks the highest number of unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by Russian troops …
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 27 that Moscow has “enough forces and means” to bring its war against Ukraine to a “logical conclusion” without making any meaningful concessions, it has been revealed in new …
In this week’s episode, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the back-and-forth developments surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. As negotiations stall, the battle rages on in multiple sectors of the front. Also, …
