Day: May 5, 2026

President Donald Trump’s campaign to politically punish Republicans who stand in his way moves through Indiana on Tuesday night, when seven state senators face Trump-backed primary challengers.

Indiana’s primary will test President Donald Trump’s enduring power over the Republican Party as he tries to dislodge state senators who refused to go along with his call to redraw the state’s congressional map.

Dozens more were injured in the explosion, which appeared to be one of the country’s deadliest in recent years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a unilateral ceasefire on the night of May 5 to 6 in response to Russian rhetoric regarding a May 9 “Victory Day” ceasefire, urging Russian forces to reciprocate.[26] Zelensky stated on May 4 that Ukraine has not received an official Russian appeal about a Victory Day ceasefire but will unilaterally enact a ceasefire starting at midnight on the night of May 5 to 6. Zelensky stated that Ukraine will maintain the ceasefire if Russia reciprocates it. Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov claimed on April 29 that Russian President Vladimir Putin used a phone call with US President Donald Trump to call for a short-term ceasefire for the May 9 Victory Day holiday, which celebrates the Soviet Union’s role in the victory over Germany in the Second World War.[27]  Russia’s Defense Ministry declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Machine Gunners Positioned on Kremlin Towers to Counter Drones in Moscowmilitarnyi.com/en/news/mach…— southpatt 🇦🇺🍿 (@southpatt.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T22:34:47.043Z Russian forces conducted missile strikes and a large-scale drone strike against Ukraine during the day on May 3.  The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, five Kh-59/69 cruise missiles, and 234 Shahed (including jet-propelled), Gerbera, Italmas, Parodiya, and other drones over the course of the day.[57] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed five Kh-59/69 cruise missiles and 175 drones. ISW previously reported that Russian forces have begun launching daytime strike packages, in addition to overnight strikes, in what ISW assesses is an effort to maximize visibility for long-range strikes and disrupt civilian and commercial activity.[58] Russian forces conducted a series of long-range drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of May 3 to 4. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 155 Shahed (including jet-propelled), Gerbera, Italmas, Parodiya, and other drones from the directions of Kursk and Oryol cities; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; occupied Donetsk City; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea.[59] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 135 drones, that 14 drones struck 10 locations, and that downed debris fell on four locations. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes damaged civilian and non-residential infrastructure in Sumy and Zaporizhia oblasts.[60] Ukrainian officials also reported that Russian forces struck residential and commercial infrastructure in Merefa, Kharkiv Oblast midmorning on May 4, likely with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, killing seven and injuring 35 people.[61] Russian forces are increasingly targeting gas stations in Kharkiv City to disrupt civilian life. Kharkiv City Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on May 4 that Russian forces struck gas stations in Kharkiv City 15 times between April 27 and May 3.[62] Terekhov stated that Russian forces are attempting to generate fear amongst Kharkiv City residents but that the strikes have not caused a fuel shortage. Ukrainian petroleum products market expert Leonid Kosyanchuk stated that Ukrainian gas stations cannot effectively defend themselves against Russian strikes due to the hazard posed by flammable ammunition fragments and debris, and that targeting gas stations has a greater psychological impact than targeting commercial warehouses and depots.[63] Ukraine says air defenses downed or suppressed 135 of 155 Russian drones launched overnight from 18:00 on May 3, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and decoy types. Fourteen strike drones hit 10 locations, while debris fell at 4 more https://t.me/dronbomber/34799 Satellite imagery provided an additional battle damage assessment (BDA) of the April 23 Ukrainian strike against the Gorky oil pumping station in Neshikha, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.[34] A Ukrainian open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst assessed on May 4 that satellite imagery confirms the destruction of two fuel tanks with a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters, damage to filtration equipment, and likely damage to storage facilities at the pumping station.[35] 2/even after more than 100 hits from a Russian helicopter and anti-aircraft shells, it continued its flight.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@militarynewsua.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T10:47:58.081Z ❗️Ukraine has agreed to move forward with the Drone Deal with the EU: we are preparing a plan of steps that will make it possible to create the necessary security infrastructure, — Zelenskyy— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@militarynewsua.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T08:30:48.825Z Canada is allocating another $200 million to help protect Ukraine from ballistic missile attacks, Zelensky said, thanking Prime Minister Mark Carney for additional PURL support. The funding will strengthen protection against Russian missile strikes. #Ukraine— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 2026-05-04T12:13:20.182Z Key TakeawaysA leaked European intelligence report highlights Russian President Vladimir Putin’s increasing concern over his personal safety and the safety of his senior officials.*ISW has not observed independent evidence to support other aspects of the leaked intelligence report about Putin’s fears of a coup attempt in Russia.*The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) appointed Colonel General Alexander Chayko to the position of commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) after recent domestic criticisms of Russian air defense and air campaign failures.*Russian forces first infiltrated into the outskirts of Kostyantynivka in late October 2025 but have yet to achieve meaningful operational progress in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.*Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a unilateral ceasefire on the night of May 5 to 6 in response to Russian rhetoric regarding a May 9 “Victory Day” ceasefire, urging Russian forces to reciprocate.*Swedish authorities seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker on May 3.  *Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on the frontline.*Russian forces launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, five Kh-59/69 cruise missiles, and 234 drones toward Ukraine during the day on May 3, and 155 drones overnight.  https://t.co/k8c5YMAuAv General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Operational update as of 10:00 PM on May 4, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion A total of 132 combat engagements have taken place since the start of this day. Defense forces continue to halt the enemy, eliminate personnel, and deplete the occupiers’ combat potential by inflicting systematic fire damage. The enemy launched a missile strike using one missile, carried out 54 airstrikes, and dropped 175 guided aerial bombs. Additionally, they deployed 5,782 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,525 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, one of the five engagements that took place today is ongoing. The enemy carried out 65 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions, five of which involved the use of multiple launch rocket systems. In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy launched four assaults on our units’ positions in the areas of the settlements of Prylipka, Starytsia, and Ambarne. One combat engagement is ongoing. In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy did not conduct any active operations today. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian troops repelled four attempts by the invaders to advance toward the settlements of Lyman, Yampil, and Ozerne. One engagement is ongoing. In the Sloviansk direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled two attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of the settlements of Kryva Luka and Riznykivka. In the Kramatorsk sector, our defenders repelled two enemy attacks near the towns of Nikiforivka and Virolyubivka. Another clash is still ongoing. Defense forces successfully repelled 12 enemy assaults in the Kostiantynivka sector near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, and Stepanivka. Two clashes are still ongoing. In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 21 attacks. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas of the settlements of Rodynske, Udachne, Novopavlivka, Novooleksandrivka, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, and Muravka. According to preliminary estimates, 52 occupiers were eliminated and 16 wounded in this sector today; three enemy vehicles and eight units of specialized equipment, as well as two artillery pieces, were destroyed; five vehicles, two artillery pieces, and two drone control stations were damaged. A total of 194 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or neutralized. In the Oleksandrivka sector, the occupiers made seven attempts to improve their positions, launching attacks in the areas of the settlements of Sichneve, Yegorivka, Nove Zaporizhzhia, and Zlagoda. In the Huliaipole sector, the occupiers launched ten attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zaliznychne, Hirke, Staroukrainka, Olenokostyantynivka, Yablukove, Sviatopetrivka, Charivne, Verkhnia Tersa, and Vozdvyzhivska. One firefight is currently ongoing. In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attempted to advance near the village of Shcherbaky. In the Dnipro sector, our defenders successfully repelled three assaults in the direction of Antonivka. In other sectors, there were no significant changes in the situation. Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our Victory closer! Glory to Ukraine! https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-4-2026/ https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-4-2026/

A New York Times reporter joined a group of cyclists on a route meant to break down Cape Town’s lingering racial and economic barriers.

The governments have no official diplomatic or military ties. But a loose network led by company executives and volunteers is bridging some of that gulf.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed London’s plan to join the European Union’s €90 billion loan for Ukraine, as revealed in a joint statement posted on Monday, AzerNEWS reports.