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10 May Briefing Read full brief

A truce that exists on paper while drones keep hitting the maps

Kyiv's Office of the President told Suspilne that Putin's claim Ukraine refused a 1,000-for-1,000 POW swap "does not correspond to reality" and depends on Washington as guarantor. Russia struck Zaporizhzhia 780 times in 24 hours of the May 9-11 truce — 598 UAVs, 174 artillery, 1 killed, 3 injured across 33 settlements; Dnipropetrovsk drones wounded a 23-year-old rescuer and a three-year-old; four were hit in Kherson. ISW says Moscow used the pause for rotations. The NYT tracked Russia's slowest gains since 2023; the Geran-5 cruise missile debuted in a virtual Red Square parade.

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ua95

Kyiv rejects Putin's claim Ukraine walked away from 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap

The Office of the President of Ukraine told Suspilne that Vladimir Putin's claim Kyiv had refused a large-scale prisoner exchange "does not correspond to reality," insisting work on the deal is actively moving forward and rests on Washington acting as guarantor. Putin had told state media after the May 9 Victory Day parade that Russia tabled 500 Ukrainian POWs for swap on May 5 and that Ukrainian negotiators "went off the radar." The proposed Trump-brokered "1,000-for-1,000" exchange — the largest since the 2022 invasion — was timed to a May 9-11 truce that Russian drones have already broken in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

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The Office of the President of Ukraine told Suspilne that Vladimir Putin's claim Kyiv had refused a large-scale prisoner exchange "does not correspond to reality," insisting work on the deal is actively moving forward and rests on Washington acting as guarantor. Putin had told state media after the May 9 Victory Day parade that Russia tabled 500 Ukrainian POWs for swap on May 5 and that Ukrainian negotiators "went off the radar." The proposed Trump-brokered "1,000-for-1,000" exchange — the largest since the 2022 invasion — was timed to a May 9-11 truce that Russian drones have already broken in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

ua92

Russia's battlefield gains in Ukraine slow to worst since 2023 as drone saturation and communication failures hinder advances

Russia's military advance in Ukraine has slowed to its worst pace since 2023, with trackers recording net territorial losses in some months this year, The New York Times reports. At the current rate, Russia would need more than three decades to seize full control of the Donbas. The slowdown undercuts President Vladimir Putin's case to US President Donald Trump that Russian forces are heading toward inevitable victory.

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Russia's military advance in Ukraine has slowed to its worst pace since 2023, with trackers recording net territorial losses in some months this year, The New York Times reports. At the current rate, Russia would need more than three decades to seize full control of the Donbas. The slowdown undercuts President Vladimir Putin's case to US President Donald Trump that Russian forces are heading toward inevitable victory.

ua85

Russian forces strike Zaporizhzhia Oblast 780 times during truce, killing one and injuring three

Russian forces carried out 780 strikes on 33 settlements in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the past day of the so-called truce, killing one person and injuring three others, the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported. The attacks included 598 UAVs, mostly FPV drones, eight MLRS strikes, and 174 artillery strikes across multiple districts.

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Russian forces carried out 780 strikes on 33 settlements in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the past day of the so-called truce, killing one person and injuring three others, the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported. The attacks included 598 UAVs, mostly FPV drones, eight MLRS strikes, and 174 artillery strikes across multiple districts.

ua80

Russian drone strikes in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injure rescue worker and child on 10 May

Russian drone attacks on two districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 10 May injured a 23-year-old rescue worker and a three-year-old girl. The rescue worker was struck while en route to assist residents in the Myrove hromada of Nikopol district. The child was taken to hospital in moderate condition after strikes in the Synelnykove district.

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Russian drone attacks on two districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 10 May injured a 23-year-old rescue worker and a three-year-old girl. The rescue worker was struck while en route to assist residents in the Myrove hromada of Nikopol district. The child was taken to hospital in moderate condition after strikes in the Synelnykove district.

ua44

ISW reports limited offensive operations and Russian ceasefire exploitation on first day of May 9-11 truce

The Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted limited offensive operations on the first day of the May 9-11 ceasefire. Russia used the pause for rotations, reinforcements, and logistics to support future offensives. No POW swap of 1,000 prisoners each has occurred yet. Ukrainian successes prevented significant Russian advances, forcing a scaled-down Victory Day parade due to drone threats. Putin framed the war as equivalent to WWII. Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the Borova direction.

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The Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted limited offensive operations on the first day of the May 9-11 ceasefire. Russia used the pause for rotations, reinforcements, and logistics to support future offensives. No POW swap of 1,000 prisoners each has occurred yet. Ukrainian successes prevented significant Russian advances, forcing a scaled-down Victory Day parade due to drone threats. Putin framed the war as equivalent to WWII. Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the Borova direction.

ua39

Russian drone attacks injure four civilians in Kherson region on May 10

On May 10, 2026, Russian forces conducted multiple drone attacks on settlements in the Kherson region, including the city of Kherson and the settlement of Komyshany, using FPV drones and UAV-dropped explosives. Four civilians were injured: a 53-year-old Kherson City Council employee struck by a drone in the Korabelnyi district, a 19-year-old man with shrapnel wounds, a 62-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic amputation of her left arm, and another resident. Private homes, apartment buildings, and vehicles were damaged. A pre-trial investigation into war crimes has been launched. This attack underscores the ongoing Russian targeting of civilian infrastructure and personnel in southern Ukraine.

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On May 10, 2026, Russian forces conducted multiple drone attacks on settlements in the Kherson region, including the city of Kherson and the settlement of Komyshany, using FPV drones and UAV-dropped explosives. Four civilians were injured: a 53-year-old Kherson City Council employee struck by a drone in the Korabelnyi district, a 19-year-old man with shrapnel wounds, a 62-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic amputation of her left arm, and another resident. Private homes, apartment buildings, and vehicles were damaged. A pre-trial investigation into war crimes has been launched. This attack underscores the ongoing Russian targeting of civilian infrastructure and personnel in southern Ukraine.

ua38

Russia unveils jet-powered Geran-5 cruise missile in virtual Victory Day parade

Russia debuted the Geran-5, a new jet-powered cruise missile, during a virtual Victory Day parade on May 9, 2026, with no physical military hardware on Red Square. The missile, resembling the Iranian Karrar, has a range of 1,000 km, a 90 kg warhead, and a speed of 600 km/h. It is built with Chinese engines and Western electronics, posing a potential threat to Ukrainian air defenses through mass production and saturation attacks.

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Russia debuted the Geran-5, a new jet-powered cruise missile, during a virtual Victory Day parade on May 9, 2026, with no physical military hardware on Red Square. The missile, resembling the Iranian Karrar, has a range of 1,000 km, a 90 kg warhead, and a speed of 600 km/h. It is built with Chinese engines and Western electronics, posing a potential threat to Ukrainian air defenses through mass production and saturation attacks.

ua36

Russian drone strike on car in Sumy Oblast injures one, another dies from previous attack

On 9 May, a Russian drone struck a civilian car in the Znob-Novhorodske hromada of Sumy Oblast, injuring a 47-year-old man. Separately, a 46-year-old man wounded in a drone attack on a grain truck in the Hlukhiv hromada on 3 May died in hospital. Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces conducted more than 50 strikes on 18 settlements across nine hromadas of the oblast, including Sumy, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Yunakivka, Bereza, Esman, Znob-Novhorod, Putyvl, Nova Sloboda, and Velyka Pysarivka. The air raid alert in the region lasted 1 hour and 6 minutes. The attacks underscore ongoing Russian drone and artillery operations against civilian infrastructure in northern Ukraine, despite a declared truce.

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On 9 May, a Russian drone struck a civilian car in the Znob-Novhorodske hromada of Sumy Oblast, injuring a 47-year-old man. Separately, a 46-year-old man wounded in a drone attack on a grain truck in the Hlukhiv hromada on 3 May died in hospital. Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces conducted more than 50 strikes on 18 settlements across nine hromadas of the oblast, including Sumy, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Yunakivka, Bereza, Esman, Znob-Novhorod, Putyvl, Nova Sloboda, and Velyka Pysarivka. The air raid alert in the region lasted 1 hour and 6 minutes. The attacks underscore ongoing Russian drone and artillery operations against civilian infrastructure in northern Ukraine, despite a declared truce.

Frequently Asked

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How many times did Russian forces strike Zaporizhzhia Oblast during the truce?
Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia Oblast 780 times in 24 hours of the declared May 9-11 ceasefire, including 598 UAVs, eight MLRS volleys, and 174 artillery strikes.
What did Vladimir Putin claim about a prisoner exchange?
Putin claimed Ukraine refused a 500-prisoner exchange tabled by Russia on May 5 and 'went off the radar,' but Ukraine's Office of the President said this does not correspond to reality.
How many civilians were killed or injured in the truce period?
One civilian was killed and three were injured in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, while additional injuries occurred in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Sumy regions.
What is the Geran-5 missile?
The Geran-5 is a new jet-powered cruise missile unveiled by Russia during a Red Square parade, with a range of roughly 1,000 km at 600 km/h and a 90 kg warhead, built with Chinese components.
What did the Institute for the Study of War report about the truce?
The ISW reported that Russia spent the truce's first day rotating units, reinforcing, and resupplying for future offensives, and noted no 1,000-for-1,000 POW swap had taken place.