Ukrainian warplanes — including Su-27 fighters — have begun operating over Lysychansk, penetrating Russian air defenses and marking a tactical milestone that a Ukrainian colonel calls evidence of a forward advance on the occupied eastern front. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Ukraine and Russia wrapped up peace talks in Istanbul with an agreement to swap 1,000 prisoners each but failed to secure a full ceasefire. Moscow reportedly threatened to seize Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions as differences deepened. | empr.media :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Two Ukrainian servicemen were sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison on terrorism-related charges after being captured in combat and tried in a military court. Their long terms underscore a broader pattern of harsh convictions of Ukrainian POWs. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Ukraine has brought home the bodies of 909 fallen defenders from frontline sectors and morgues in Russian territory as part of ongoing repatriation efforts, moving them toward forensic identification and burial rites. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

During the first direct Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul, negotiators from both sides communicated through interpreters — a noteworthy diplomatic detail amid stalled progress and complex negotiations. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials offered St. Peter’s City as a neutral venue for future Ukraine-Russia negotiations after stalled diplomatic efforts — seeking a just and lasting peace. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Ukraine paid ~$770 million in advance for weapons never delivered, some contracts even linked to FSB/Wagner schemes. Investigative reporting exposes corruption, procurement failure and weakening trust. | empr.media :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States and Turkey wrapped up in Istanbul with leaders discussing diplomatic pathways, prisoner exchanges, security cooperation and next steps toward ending the war. | empr.media

Jan Koum, born in Kyiv and raised in Fastiv before emigrating to the U.S. at 16, rose from humble beginnings to co-found WhatsApp — later sold to Facebook for ~$19B — transforming global messaging. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Europe’s largest nuclear plant — Zaporizhzhia NPP — has been relying on just one external power transmission line for over a week to run critical cooling and safety systems, raising serious concerns from the IAEA as infrastructure damage persists. ([turn0news8], [turn0news1])

On May 16, Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks in years in Istanbul, agreeing to a 1,000‑for‑1,000 prisoner swap but failing to secure a ceasefire as Kyiv pressed Western allies for support. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}