The World Health Organization has verified more than 3,000 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with 80% targeting outpatient clinics, hospitals, and care settings. WHO Europe director Hans Kluge stated each attack violates international humanitarian law, emphasizing that healthcare is protected under international law. The damage has hindered medical staff's ability to provide essential care amid growing needs, with 12.7 million people in Ukraine requiring humanitarian aid.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) previously estimated €500 million needed to repair the Chornobyl New Safe Confinement after a Russian drone strike in February 2025. During a visit to Kyiv marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso provided new details: the drone tore a 15-square-meter hole and ignited a fire that smoldered for two weeks, damaging the cladding over an area roughly the size of 18 parked cars. The fire destroyed the ventilation system, allowing outside air to corrode the metal structure. The joint connecting the two halves of the arch and the membranes linking the arch to the foundations were also burned. Cranes attached to the arch are currently inoperable. The EBRD has allocated €30 million for preliminary work and is seeking donor commitments, with no large pledges yet secured. The repair deadline is before 2030 to prevent long-term structural corrosion.

Volodymyr Horbulin, a former Ukrainian security official, suggested in an interview that Ukraine and the European Union jointly develop nuclear weapons, citing Ukraine's historical expertise in missile systems and nuclear delivery. He noted that France and the UK have stated their current nuclear capabilities are insufficient to counter Russia. The proposal comes amid broader European discussions on strengthening nuclear deterrence, including French President Macron's plans to expand France's nuclear arsenal.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be the only EU leader attending Russia's 9 May commemorations in Moscow, where he plans to hand-deliver a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Vladimir Putin. The visit has drawn domestic and EU criticism, with analysts viewing it as a domestic political move. Fico has recently softened his stance on EU sanctions and loans to Ukraine. The trip occurs amid broader EU debate on engaging with Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the command posts of the 67th Brigade and the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Oleksandrivka sector of the front. He received operational briefings, discussed the development of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and drone logistics, and emphasized the need for more UGVs to save soldiers' lives. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russian forces had not reduced assault operations despite a declared ceasefire. Zelensky awarded troops, discussed integration of foreign fighters, and considered dedicated funding for brigade-level innovation. The 31st Brigade reported that drones now handle 60% of its logistics.

On the night of 29-30 April 2026, Ukrainian drones struck the PS 220/35/10 kV 'Krasnoperekopsk' electrical substation in occupied Crimea, causing a fire. A fire hotspot was also detected at the Brom chemical plant. Separately, a strike hit the Maryine area of Simferopol, targeting Russian military unit No. 40136, a communications hub of the Black Sea Fleet. The attacks are part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign to degrade Russian military infrastructure in Crimea.

Several unidentified drones entered Latvian airspace from Russia on May 7, with two crashing near Rēzekne, one hitting an oil storage facility and damaging four empty fuel tanks. Latvia scrambled NATO Baltic air-policing jets, summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires, and issued a formal protest. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv is in close contact with Latvia, denied directing drones toward NATO member Latvia, and offered to send expert teams to help strengthen Baltic airspace security. Sybiha noted earlier incidents involving Finland where Russian electronic warfare may have redirected drones. The incident heightens regional tensions ahead of Russia's Victory Day.

Russian Gerbera UAVs have been dropping FPV drones carrying warheads more than 30 km from the border inside Ukraine. In a new development, Ukrainian SkyFall P1-SUN interceptor drones recorded the first shootdown of five Gerbera drones used as airborne carriers for FPV drones, marking a shift to systematic use of this tactic by Russian forces. The interceptors, operated by the Raven crew of the 58th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade and the Boks unit of the 302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, destroyed the Gerberas in flight. SkyFall noted that the growing number of such assets indicates a transition by Russian forces from isolated experiments to systematic use of this tactic. The P1-SUN interceptor reaches speeds of up to 310 km/h, operates at altitudes up to 9,000 meters, and has a range of 33 km with a pursuit time of up to 17 minutes.

On May 8, Ukraine's Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism, President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address drawing parallels between Nazi ideology and modern Russian aggression, calling Russian actions an 'updated version of Nazism, branded: made in Russia.' He urged the united free world to defeat Russian aggression, honoring WWII victims and emphasizing Ukraine's shift from the Soviet 9 May Victory Day to the European 8 May commemoration, a change formalized in 2023 as part of decommunization efforts.

Lithuania has formally protested to Russia, condemning the Russian Foreign Ministry's warning to foreign states to evacuate personnel from Kyiv due to planned attacks. Lithuania views the statement as a direct threat of force against embassies and civilians, violating the UN Charter and international law. Vilnius demanded Russia cease aggression, withdraw troops, and compensate for damage. The Lithuanian Embassy in Kyiv continues operations.

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is canvassing EU support to resume discussions on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine, amid concerns that the existing EUR 90 billion loan package may cover only two-thirds of Ukraine's budget shortfall until 2027. Belgium, where most assets are held, previously opposed the mechanism due to legal and economic risks. The European Central Bank warns it could deter investment in the eurozone.

Ukrainian defense experts Valentyn Badrak and Volodymyr Horbulin advocate for prioritizing missile development and collaborating with Europe on ballistic missile projects to target enemy infrastructure and military-industrial capabilities. Badrak, head of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, stated in an interview that missiles should be Ukraine's top priority weapon, urging collaboration with Europe on missile development and citing recent European ballistic missile projects. Horbulin, First Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, noted that medium-range missiles (1,500–5,500 km) are insufficient for some tasks, while long-range ballistic missiles (over 5,500 km) are particularly promising. European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius confirmed Ukraine is considering joint missile development with European partners as Europe expands defense production.

Sweden has provided Ukraine with specialized equipment for maintaining military airfields, improving operational readiness and pilot safety. The equipment allows round-the-clock operations in all weather conditions, ensures safe take-offs and landings, and supports uninterrupted combat aviation. This support comes as Ukraine and Sweden prepare contracts for JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, with Ukraine exploring EU funding for the purchase.

Greek fishermen discovered a suspected Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) hidden in a sea cave near Cape Doukato, Lefkada, on May 7. The 5-meter craft, with its engine running, was recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Initial reports suggested it carried explosives (up to 300 kg), but later examination indicated only detonators were present. The USV, identified as a possible Magura V3, was equipped with cameras and a Starlink antenna. Authorities are investigating links to recent attacks on shadow fleet tankers in the Mediterranean or possible drug trafficking.

Ukrainian Azov Corps drone pilots are operating reconnaissance and strike systems over Mariupol, patrolling roads up to 160 km from the front line. Footage shows strikes on Russian military equipment and vehicles, including near the Azovstal steelworks. Azov aims to expand the buffer zone for Russian logistics.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Putin is ready for negotiations with European countries but will not be the first to restart diplomatic contacts, blaming Brussels and European capitals for reducing ties. European Council President António Costa acknowledged potential for talks but noted no signs of Russian willingness to engage seriously. The statements come amid deadlock over Ukraine peace negotiations and tensions over sanctions and military aid.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed all restrictions on Belarusian athletes, permitting them to compete under their national flag and anthem in international events, including qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The decision, which does not apply to Russian athletes, was welcomed by Belarus but condemned by Ukraine, which noted that Belarus continues to be used as a staging ground for Russia's invasion. World Athletics maintains its own sanctions against Belarusian athletes.

A 500-hectare forest fire in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region is being fought by 235 personnel and 36 pieces of equipment. The fire is spreading rapidly due to high temperatures and wind, and some areas are mined, complicating operations. The fire is linked to ongoing conflict conditions, as a separate fire in Chernihiv region was caused by Russian shelling.

World Athletics has decided to maintain sanctions excluding Belarusian and Russian athletes from competitions, defying the International Olympic Committee's recommendation to lift restrictions. The sanctions, in place since March 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will remain until there is tangible progress in peace negotiations over Ukraine. President Sebastian Coe stated that the sanctions will remain until there is tangible progress in peace negotiations. The IOC had recommended on 7 May that federations lift restrictions on Belarusian athletes, but World Athletics maintains its position, citing the need for peace talks to advance before any review. This decision underscores the ongoing division within the international sports community regarding the participation of athletes from countries involved in the conflict.

Ukraine's Support Forces reported that engineering units cleared 157 hectares of farmland in April, neutralizing 1,919 explosive devices. Demining efforts are concentrated in Chernihiv and Kherson regions, using equipment like Scanjack, Bozena 5, Hydrema, and GCS-200. Since the start of 2025, 540.75 hectares of farmland and 104.54 hectares of forest have been cleared, with 2,277 devices neutralized. This ongoing humanitarian demining is critical for restoring agricultural productivity and civilian safety in liberated areas.

Ukraine's Central Election Commission reports that 393 polling stations have been destroyed beyond repair and 1,001 damaged since the start of the war. An additional 122 were destroyed for non-war reasons. The condition of 6,347 stations in occupied or frontline areas is unknown. 643 stations have been restored. The report highlights challenges for future elections during or after the war.

Ukraine's Shevchenkivskyi District Court sentenced Vladimir Medinsky and Alexander Torkunov, editors of a Russian history textbook, to 10 years in prison with property confiscation for encroaching on Ukraine's territorial integrity and justifying Russian aggression. The textbook, used in occupied territories since 2023, promotes Russian narratives and denies Ukraine's sovereignty. This ruling underscores Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian information warfare targeting children in occupied areas.

Oleh Liashko, former Ukrainian MP and leader of the Radical Party, has been appointed commander of the 432nd Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment of the 11th Army Corps. The appointment, effective 6 May, marks an expansion of Ukraine's drone warfare capabilities as the country continues to develop unmanned systems within its military structure amid the war with Russia.