Overview
- A Russian regional governor said a Ukrainian drone killed two teenagers riding a motorcycle in Belgorod, highlighting the growing cross‑border toll on civilians.
- Ukraine’s General Staff said it struck Russia’s Orsk oil refinery near Kazakhstan, hit two helicopters in the Voronezh region, and destroyed a munitions depot in occupied Donetsk, part of a campaign that now reaches targets up to about 1,500 kilometers inside Russia.
- Russia launched a record 6,583 long‑range drones in April, with more daytime attacks that raise the risk for people on the streets and disrupt work, according to data from Ukraine’s air force and outside analysis.
- The Kremlin said Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day parade will feature no military hardware, citing a terrorist threat it attributes to Ukraine.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to reform Ukraine’s armed forces with phased demobilization and higher pay for front‑line troops.