Russia's Iran-war oil windfall already comes up short as civilian strikes hit Kharkiv and Sumy
A Russian Iskander killed five civilians and injured 19 in Merefa, Kharkiv Oblast, with separate guided-bomb and airstrike attacks on Komyshuvakha and Shostka. Ukrainian air defences downed 135 of 155 overnight drones, and the IAEA said a drone struck Zaporizhzhia NPP's External Radiation Control Laboratory on 3 May. Russian oil revenue jumped to $19 billion in March but the Finance Ministry still missed baseline by 234.3 billion rubles. President Vladimir Putin appointed Bucha-sanctioned Colonel General Alexander Chaiko to lead Russia's Aerospace Forces.
Recent events
ua95Drone hits external radiation lab at Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; IAEA seeks access
A drone struck the External Radiation Control Laboratory at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 3 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. The lab sits outside the plant's perimeter; the IAEA reported no injuries and has requested access to assess possible damage. The strike follows a 27 April drone attack near the plant that killed a vehicle driver and triggered the facility's 15th loss of external power since the full-scale war began.
Show summaryHide
Drone hits external radiation lab at Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; IAEA seeks access
A drone struck the External Radiation Control Laboratory at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 3 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. The lab sits outside the plant's perimeter; the IAEA reported no injuries and has requested access to assess possible damage. The strike follows a 27 April drone attack near the plant that killed a vehicle driver and triggered the facility's 15th loss of external power since the full-scale war began.
A drone struck the External Radiation Control Laboratory at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 3 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. The lab sits outside the plant's perimeter; the IAEA reported no injuries and has requested access to assess possible damage. The strike follows a 27 April drone attack near the plant that killed a vehicle driver and triggered the facility's 15th loss of external power since the full-scale war began.
ua92Russian Iskander missile strike on Merefa kills five, injures 19
A Russian Iskander ballistic missile struck the town of Merefa in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of May 4, killing five civilians and injuring 19, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Four people died at the scene, and a severely injured woman later died in hospital. The attack damaged residential buildings, shops, a restaurant, a car repair shop, and cars.
Show summaryHide
Russian Iskander missile strike on Merefa kills five, injures 19
A Russian Iskander ballistic missile struck the town of Merefa in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of May 4, killing five civilians and injuring 19, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Four people died at the scene, and a severely injured woman later died in hospital. The attack damaged residential buildings, shops, a restaurant, a car repair shop, and cars.
A Russian Iskander ballistic missile struck the town of Merefa in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of May 4, killing five civilians and injuring 19, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Four people died at the scene, and a severely injured woman later died in hospital. The attack damaged residential buildings, shops, a restaurant, a car repair shop, and cars.
ua88Ukrainian forces advance northwest of Orikhiv, strike Russian FSB boats guarding Kerch Bridge
Ukrainian forces recently advanced northwest of Orikhiv and struck Russian FSB boats guarding the Kerch Bridge, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 268 long-range drones against Ukraine overnight. ISW also reported that rising oil revenues are unlikely to resolve Russia's growing economic problems, as senior Russian bankers continue to express concerns.
Show summaryHide
Ukrainian forces advance northwest of Orikhiv, strike Russian FSB boats guarding Kerch Bridge
Ukrainian forces recently advanced northwest of Orikhiv and struck Russian FSB boats guarding the Kerch Bridge, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 268 long-range drones against Ukraine overnight. ISW also reported that rising oil revenues are unlikely to resolve Russia's growing economic problems, as senior Russian bankers continue to express concerns.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced northwest of Orikhiv and struck Russian FSB boats guarding the Kerch Bridge, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 268 long-range drones against Ukraine overnight. ISW also reported that rising oil revenues are unlikely to resolve Russia's growing economic problems, as senior Russian bankers continue to express concerns.
ua85Russia's oil revenue surged to $19 billion in March on Iran war windfall, IEA reports
Russia's oil revenue climbed to $19 billion in March from $9.75 billion in February, driven by the Iran war pushing crude above $100 a barrel, the International Energy Agency reported. Despite the windfall, Russia's Finance Ministry recorded a 234.3 billion ruble ($3.12 billion) shortfall against its baseline oil-and-gas revenue projection for March, with every month of 2026 falling below baseline. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged on May 3 that income and expenditure had stayed flat despite the windfall, and Sberbank's CFO forecast the ruble would weaken to 80-90 per dollar by year-end.
Show summaryHide
Russia's oil revenue surged to $19 billion in March on Iran war windfall, IEA reports
Russia's oil revenue climbed to $19 billion in March from $9.75 billion in February, driven by the Iran war pushing crude above $100 a barrel, the International Energy Agency reported. Despite the windfall, Russia's Finance Ministry recorded a 234.3 billion ruble ($3.12 billion) shortfall against its baseline oil-and-gas revenue projection for March, with every month of 2026 falling below baseline. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged on May 3 that income and expenditure had stayed flat despite the windfall, and Sberbank's CFO forecast the ruble would weaken to 80-90 per dollar by year-end.
Russia's oil revenue climbed to $19 billion in March from $9.75 billion in February, driven by the Iran war pushing crude above $100 a barrel, the International Energy Agency reported. Despite the windfall, Russia's Finance Ministry recorded a 234.3 billion ruble ($3.12 billion) shortfall against its baseline oil-and-gas revenue projection for March, with every month of 2026 falling below baseline. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged on May 3 that income and expenditure had stayed flat despite the windfall, and Sberbank's CFO forecast the ruble would weaken to 80-90 per dollar by year-end.
ua41Ukraine downs 135 of 155 Russian drones in overnight attack on May 3-4
On the night of May 3-4, 2026, Russia launched 155 attack drones (Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parody decoys) from Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo, and occupied Donetsk and Crimea. Ukrainian air defenses, including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups, shot down or neutralized 135 drones across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. Fourteen drones hit 10 locations, and debris fell at 4 locations. The attack is ongoing with several drones still in Ukrainian airspace.
Show summaryHide
Ukraine downs 135 of 155 Russian drones in overnight attack on May 3-4
On the night of May 3-4, 2026, Russia launched 155 attack drones (Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parody decoys) from Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo, and occupied Donetsk and Crimea. Ukrainian air defenses, including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups, shot down or neutralized 135 drones across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. Fourteen drones hit 10 locations, and debris fell at 4 locations. The attack is ongoing with several drones still in Ukrainian airspace.
On the night of May 3-4, 2026, Russia launched 155 attack drones (Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parody decoys) from Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo, and occupied Donetsk and Crimea. Ukrainian air defenses, including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups, shot down or neutralized 135 drones across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. Fourteen drones hit 10 locations, and debris fell at 4 locations. The attack is ongoing with several drones still in Ukrainian airspace.
ua40Ukrainian forces advance near Orikhiv; Russia intensifies attacks on Kupiansk
Ukrainian forces have advanced northwest of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, with geolocated footage showing troops moving south of Lukyanivske. Russian military bloggers acknowledge that Russian forces likely no longer hold positions in several settlements northwest of Orikhiv, contradicting official Russian claims. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, exploiting favorable weather conditions. Ukraine also struck Russian military and energy infrastructure, including an oil tanker near Primorsk in Leningrad Oblast, two shadow fleet vessels in Krasnodar Krai, and a Transneft facility in Perm Krai, causing a large fire. The Institute for the Study of War suggests these strikes indicate weaknesses in Russian air defense, with some systems reportedly redeployed to Moscow for Victory Day parade protection.
Show summaryHide
Ukrainian forces advance near Orikhiv; Russia intensifies attacks on Kupiansk
Ukrainian forces have advanced northwest of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, with geolocated footage showing troops moving south of Lukyanivske. Russian military bloggers acknowledge that Russian forces likely no longer hold positions in several settlements northwest of Orikhiv, contradicting official Russian claims. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, exploiting favorable weather conditions. Ukraine also struck Russian military and energy infrastructure, including an oil tanker near Primorsk in Leningrad Oblast, two shadow fleet vessels in Krasnodar Krai, and a Transneft facility in Perm Krai, causing a large fire. The Institute for the Study of War suggests these strikes indicate weaknesses in Russian air defense, with some systems reportedly redeployed to Moscow for Victory Day parade protection.
Ukrainian forces have advanced northwest of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, with geolocated footage showing troops moving south of Lukyanivske. Russian military bloggers acknowledge that Russian forces likely no longer hold positions in several settlements northwest of Orikhiv, contradicting official Russian claims. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, exploiting favorable weather conditions. Ukraine also struck Russian military and energy infrastructure, including an oil tanker near Primorsk in Leningrad Oblast, two shadow fleet vessels in Krasnodar Krai, and a Transneft facility in Perm Krai, causing a large fire. The Institute for the Study of War suggests these strikes indicate weaknesses in Russian air defense, with some systems reportedly redeployed to Moscow for Victory Day parade protection.
ua39Putin appoints Alexander Chaiko, sanctioned for Bucha war crimes, as head of Russian Aerospace Forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Alexander Chaiko as the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, replacing Viktor Afzalov. Chaiko, a former commander of Russia's Eastern Military District, is under EU sanctions for war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine has charged him with planning and executing the invasion of northern Ukraine, including setting up a headquarters in a seized kindergarten. This appointment signals continued Kremlin support for military figures implicated in atrocities in Ukraine.
Show summaryHide
Putin appoints Alexander Chaiko, sanctioned for Bucha war crimes, as head of Russian Aerospace Forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Alexander Chaiko as the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, replacing Viktor Afzalov. Chaiko, a former commander of Russia's Eastern Military District, is under EU sanctions for war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine has charged him with planning and executing the invasion of northern Ukraine, including setting up a headquarters in a seized kindergarten. This appointment signals continued Kremlin support for military figures implicated in atrocities in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Alexander Chaiko as the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, replacing Viktor Afzalov. Chaiko, a former commander of Russia's Eastern Military District, is under EU sanctions for war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine has charged him with planning and executing the invasion of northern Ukraine, including setting up a headquarters in a seized kindergarten. This appointment signals continued Kremlin support for military figures implicated in atrocities in Ukraine.
ua38Ukraine reports over 1,000 civilians and military held captive by Russia since 2022
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been held captive by Russia since 2022, with poor conditions and abuse reported. The headquarters is prioritizing their release, having returned 832 people this year and 9,048 since the invasion began.
Show summaryHide
Ukraine reports over 1,000 civilians and military held captive by Russia since 2022
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been held captive by Russia since 2022, with poor conditions and abuse reported. The headquarters is prioritizing their release, having returned 832 people this year and 9,048 since the invasion began.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been held captive by Russia since 2022, with poor conditions and abuse reported. The headquarters is prioritizing their release, having returned 832 people this year and 9,048 since the invasion began.