Ukraine’s military intelligence said it shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk using a naval drone on Saturday, calling it the world’s first such strike.
President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed the destruction of a second Russian aircraft within 24 hours, following a strike on an airfield in occupied Crimea.
Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kyiv overnight on Sunday, injuring seven people, including two children, and setting homes and cars on fire. Debris damaged residential buildings and a shopping mall, as air-raid sirens sounded for nearly an hour across the capital and eastern Ukraine.
The attack came just hours after Mr Zelensky has said Ukraine is ready to commit to a full 30-day ceasefire starting today, reiterating his push for Moscow to accept “complete silence” so the two countries can work out next steps towards peace.
“We are ready to move toward a ceasefire even starting today, if Russia is ready to take reciprocal steps: complete silence, a lasting ceasefire of at least 30 days,” he wrote on social media.
“That’s a fair timeframe to prepare the next steps. Russia must stop the war – halt its assaults and shelling.”
Russia’s drone strike on Kyiv injures 11, damages multiple buildings
Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv overnight, injuring at least 11 people, including two children, and sparking fires in several residential areas, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.
Falling debris from destroyed drones caused fires in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed the fires on social media. The city’s emergency services reported that 76 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blazes, including a fire in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district.
Photos posted online showed firefighters battling large fires at residential buildings during the night.In addition to the fires, several cars across the city caught fire from falling drone debris. Witnesses reported hearing explosions, which sounded like air defense systems in action, according to Reuters.
Kyiv and surrounding regions were under air-raid alerts for about an hour, starting soon after midnight local time.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 06:50
In pictures: Russia launches overnight attacks on Kyiv
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 06:30
Zelensky accuses Putin of ‘playing games’ over proposed ceasefire
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of using a proposed three-day ceasefire as a “theatrical performance” ahead of Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations.
In response to Russia’s announcement of a 3-day halt in hostilities starting 8 May, Zelensky argued that such a brief period would not allow for meaningful peace talks.
He added that Ukraine would not be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May,” referring to the planned foreign delegations attending Russia’s World War II commemorations.
Ukraine and the US have proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Russia has so far rejected.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 06:10
France to ramp up production of AASM Hammer bombs for Ukraine
France plans to increase production of its AASM Hammer guided air bombs to 1,200 units in 2025, up from 830 in 2024, as part of ongoing defense support for Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent.
The precision bombs, developed by Safran, have become a key weapon for Ukraine’s air force due to their high accuracy and resistance to Russian electronic warfare.
According to Le Parisien, the French government requested Safran to integrate surface-to-air missile systems (SAM) onto Ukrainian fighter jets after American JDAM bombs failed to hit targets. This modification, completed in 2023, enables precise targeting from Ukraine’s Soviet-era jets.
France currently supplies around 50 AASM bombs per month to Ukraine.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 05:50
What is the Su-57 Russian fighter jet?
Designed in the “pixelated” camouflage colour scheme, the Sukhoi fighter jet’s body has a colour mix of dark and light grey with and black pixels, which experts say is designed to add to its stealth capabilities.
According to chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan, the latest Russian fifth-generation fighter jet has no limits for development and is the first such Russian warplane that can participate in real combat. Its stealth feature – the first in the Russian Air Force – comprises a low signature design which minimises its chances of detection by radar systems.
It can be developed for carrying missiles and bombs in cargo compartments and has a major onboard defence complex. The jet also features an internal weapons bay for the pilot, allowing a flexible choice between a long-range or a close-combat missiles option in a scenario of military engagement.
Mr Bogdan claims the fighter jet’s agility could give it an edge over its American competitor F-35.
According to its manufacturer, serial production of the aircraft began in 2022.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 05:26
Ukraine destroys Russian fighter jet with sea drone for first time
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported the destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet by a missile fired from a sea drone – what it called the world’s first downing of a combat aircraft by a maritime drone.
The $50m jet was reportedly hit midair and crashed into the sea near Novorossiisk, according to The Kyiv Independent.
A pro-Russian blogger claimed the pilots ejected and were rescued by civilian sailors, the Guardian reported.
Later in the day, president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had destroyed a second Russian military aircraft within 24 hours, following a strike on a military airfield in occupied Crimea.
“I thank our guys who are increasing Ukrainian long-range capabilities – both in the sky and at sea. The shooting down of a Russian military aircraft by our naval drone was brilliant – proof of Ukrainian capabilities,” Mr Zelensky said his evening address.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 04:43
Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 7, sets buildings and cars ablaze
A Russian drone attack on Kyiv overnight injured seven people, including two children aged 14 and 17, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko wrote on Telegram.
The strike triggered multiple explosions across the capital as air defences engaged incoming drones, and debris sparked fires and damage in several districts.
In the Obolonskyi district, the Dream Town shopping mall sustained damage, while at least seven cars and the top floors of a high-rise building caught fire. Similar incidents were reported in the Shevchenkivskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts, where falling debris ignited additional blazes.
Kyiv, its surrounding region, and much of eastern Ukraine were under air-raid alerts for about an hour starting shortly after midnight local time. Witnesses reported hearing several loud blasts during the attack, which Ukrainian officials say is part of a broader escalation targeting civilians in recent weeks.
Shahana Yasmin4 May 2025 04:42
