Celebrate International Museum Day in Kyiv with free admission to the National Museum of Natural History, Kyiv‑Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral, Golden Gate, Ukrainian Literature Museum and more. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Kyiv’s Independence Square hosted a solemn farewell to British bomb disposal expert Chris “Swampy” Garrett, killed while clearing mines near Izium. Friends, comrades and citizens honored his sacrifice and legacy. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Six Ukrainians reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 14 in the biggest group climb in Ukraine’s history — then four summited nearby Lhotse the next day, with one climber setting a 12‑hour double peak record. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

On May 18, 2025 Russia launched its largest drone assault yet — 273 Shahed and decoy UAVs — striking Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions with civilian casualties reported just days after peace talks failed. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

A massive Russian strike hit Ukraine’s Kyiv region with drones and missiles, killing civilians and wrecking houses, power lines and buildings — part of a relentless bombardment of the capital’s outskirts. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

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}