Russian strike on Kramatorsk results in 25 casualties, Ukraine liberates several settlements in the south

1839: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly advised President Zelensky not to negotiate with Russian dictator Putin, writes Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda.

"Johnson came to Kyiv with two simple messages: Putin is a war criminal and needs to be squeezed, so don't come to any sort of agreement with him. And secondly – if you're ready to sign some sort of agreement with him – we aren't. We can sign something with you, but not with him, he'll still throw everyone under the bus," said a source quoted by UP.

1804: A curfew has been announced in Zaporizhzhya, starting at 1900 on May 8, and lasting until 0500 on May 10.

1739: Russia is shelling Kharkiv again, killing a teenager who was helping to evacuate animals living in a local ecopark.

Another two people received serious injuries, and are in critical condition. Doctors are providing medical care.

1735: Independent Russian media outlet IStories reports that losses among Chechen warlord Kadyrov's troops in Ukraine are much higher than reported, with the Chechen vassal state claiming only 13 KIAs officially.

However, sources in Chechnya's Ministry of Health claim that Kadyrov's real losses are equivalent to losses taken by Dagestan, another component republic in the Russian Federation – according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at least 123 Russian soldiers from Dagestan have been killed.

As Chechnya's population is two or three times smaller than Dagestan's, this could potentially represent a significant number of KIAs, IStories says.

1705: The mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk has asked residents to leave during May 7-9, citing a heightened risk of missile strikes.

"I'm asking anyone who can, on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of May, including employers and all the residents of Ivano-Frankivsk, to not gather in the city, at the lack, in the park or in other public places. If you can, leave the city, work on your gardens, so that there would be fewer people in Ivano-Frankivsk," said mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv in a video address.

1652: One of the leaders of pro-Russian politician and treason suspect Viktor Medvedchuk's organization, Ukrainian Choice, has been detained in Kyiv, says the counterintelligence division of Ukraine's SBU security service.

While the identity of the suspect has not been revealed, the SBU says that the person in question worked overthrow Ukraine's lawful government, and coordinated his actions with Russian special services.

1616: Pro-Russian blogger Shariy, suspected of treason in Ukraine, has been released from detention in Spain after promising not to flee the country, reports Spanish newspaper El Pais citing Spain's National Court.

1612: Russian invaders are attempting to break into the Bilohorivka region from their current position at Rubizhne, announced the head of the Luhansk regional administration, Serhiy Haidai.

"The situation there is difficult," he said.

1602: A Reuters investigation has revealed the complicity of elite paratrooper units from Pskov, Kadyrovtsi, and the Vityaz Rosgvardia division in the atrocities in Bucha.

The news organization has confirmed the identities and home bases of numerous soldiers who took part in the massacre in that Kyiv suburb.

To do this, Reuters journalists interviewed over 90 Bucha residents, compared photographic, video, and eyewitness evidence, and has published information about those soldiers whose identities they managed to confirm.

1527: Deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, Captain Syatoslav Palamar, has called on President Zelensky and the international community to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal steelworks.

"We call on the international community to evacuate the civilians. I personally am addressing the Commander-in-Chief to take care of our wounded soldiers, who are dying in terrible agony from inadequate treatment," Captain Palamar said.

"Give us a chance to remove the bodies of the dead, so that Ukrainians can say goodbye to their heroes. React appropriately to this critical situation, one where the enemy does not observe any sort of ethical norms, conventions, or laws, simply eliminating people in view of the entire world, guided by permissiveness and impunity!"

1454: Mariupol residents have displayed the sort of "humanitarian aid" they're receiving from occupying Russian forces, in photos an NV reader from Mariupol has sent to the publication.

"These canned goods have been expired for two years already," the author of the photo pointed out, on conditions of anonymity.

1448: The UK has "unrecognized" the Moscow Stock Exchange, according to a decision taken by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

This means that investors, in the future, will not be able to access certain UK tax benefits when trading securities on the Moscow Exchange, but investments will be protected, according to a press release from the United Kingdom Treasury.

1447: Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has complained that Russia's "special operation" has gone on too long, he said in an interview with the Associated Press.

"To be honest, I didn't think that this operation would go on this long," the dictator said.

"But I'm not that engaged in this problem to say that everything is going according to plan for the Russians, as they are saying, or the way I feel all of this. I want to emphasize one more time that I feel that this operation has dragged on."

1443: Former Ukrainian foreign minister Volodymyr Okhrizko believes that there are people around Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that are ready to overthrow him or sell him out. He expressed this opinion during an interview on Radio NV.

1437: The storming of Azovstal continues for the third day.

"The orcs have burst onto the territory of the factory, combat is ongoing. There is no ceasefire," said the deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, Captain Svyatoslav Palamar.

No evacuation is currently being held.

1426: The head of the village of Chornobaivka, Ihor Dudar, is currently in critical condition in hospital, said the village council. He's been hospitalized since May 2, after Russian soldiers conducted a search at his house, damaging it.

The hospital is being monitored by Russian soldiers.

1315: Ukraine's military has launched counter-offensives in the Kharkiv and Izyum directions, reported Armed Forces chief Valeriy Zaluzhny, during a conversation with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.

Zaluzhny also spoke about the Russians moving their main efforts to the Luhansk axis, where fierce battles continue in the area of Popasna, Kremenna and Torskiy.

In addition, he focused on the resumption of the use of cruise missiles by the Russian invaders, which he says are meant to destroy the logistics routes for the supply of Western military aid to Ukraine.

Over the course of May 3, the Russian military launched 14 cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets, from Tu-160 strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea. As of midnight yesterday, eight cruise missiles launches were recorded in Ukraine.

1259: Zelensky has announced the creation of a global initiative, titled United24, in order to fundraise in support of Ukraine.

"Today, the entire free world has united around Ukraine – countries, companies, international organizations, and most importantly, people," Zelensky said in an address.

"Only together do we have the potential to stop the war started by Russia – to rebuild what it destroyed. Together we can help freedom defeat tyranny. This fundraising platform is part of the global United 24 initiative, which was launched in order to support Ukraine."

1248: A psychologist serving in the Azov Regiment in Mariupol has been killed, reports the Chervonohradskyi city council.

Psychologist Nataliya Luhovskaya served until the last, helping the defenders of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, currently being stormed by Russian forces.

Eternal memory.

1242: Russian invaders shelled Mykolaiv Oblast all night, wounding several people.

Vitaly Kim, head of the Mykolaiv military administration, stated that the city had been significantly damaged as a result of the bombings.

1224: The U.S. is expanding its training programs for teaching Ukrainian soldiers to use new U.S. provided weapons systems, reports U.S. media outlet The Hill.

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained to use U.S. artillery systems, drones, and radar systems, in different military bases across Europe.

Over 220 have already been trained, particularly on the M777 howitzer system.

On Sunday, another 20 completed a week-long course on using new Phoenix Ghost single-use drones. Another 50 will begin the course at the end of the week.

1209: The CEO of the Coca-Cola company, James Quincy, has said that the company may completely cease operations in Russia due to Russia's war against Ukraine.

1135: The bodies of five people, reportedly shot by enemy forces, have been uncovered in Luhansk Oblast, says Luhansk regional head Haidai.

"The enemy has conducted 24 destructive attacks against civilians in the oblast," he stated.

"Currently, we've found and identified the bodies of five dead victims, who of which were men from Novo-Ivanovka, who was caught by Russian fire on the evening of May 3. In the morning, a man from Toshkovka and a woman from Voyevodovka were killed, and during the a day, a man from Popasna."

1058: Russia's military losses according to the Ukrainian military, as of May 4, below.

Over the previous day, the largest Russian losses were observed on the Popasna axis:

• Manpower — 24700 (+200)

• Tanks — 1092 (+15)

• Armored vehicles — 2651 (+41)

• Artillery systems — 499 (+8)

• Multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) — 169 (+6)

• Anti-air defense systems — 83 (+2)

• Aircraft — 196 (+2)

• Helicopters — 155 (+0)

• Automobiles and fuel trucks — 1907 (+40)

• Ships/cutters — 10 (+0)

• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) — 312 (+9)

• Specialized equipment — 38 (+0)

• Cruise missiles — 89 (+2)

1040: Notorious pro-Russian blogger Anatoly Shariy, suspected of treason, is detained in Spain, Ukraine's SBU security service reports.

SBU investigators believe Shariy has been engaged in illegal activities damaging to national security.
"There's reason to believe that Anatoly Shariy has acted on the orders of a foreign power," an SBU statement on Shariy's detention reads.

1034: For the second time in the last four years, a Ukrainian sailor, part of the crew of the tugboat Yana Kapu, has been captured by the Russians.

Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, stated that Evheniy Semidotskiy has become a prisoner-of-war once more, during Semidotskiy's service in a fire rescue department of a local State Emergency Services office.

He was one of the Ukrainian sailors that was taken captive by Russians in November 2018, while on the tugboat Yana Kapu.

0958: Ukraine needs to be ready for a war of attrition which Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is ready to start, MP Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, told NV Radio during an interview.

0908: At least 25 people have been wounded by a missile strike on Kramatorsk, says the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko. Six of the victims are receiving medical care. The strike also damaged nine houses, a school, and numerous civilian infrastructure facilities.

0821: Russian invaders are advancing on several fronts in the Battle for Donbas, and are throwing forces into the storming of Azovstal in Mariupol, says the General Staff.

Russian divisions are attempting to conduct offensive advances towards the towns of Liman, Sievierodonetsk, and Popasna, but have not been successful.Artillery bombardments continue along the conflict line on the Donetsk axis.

0806: Russian forces fired at a residential area in the center of the town of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region overnight, damaging multi-story residences, a school, and a kindergarten, stated Kramatorsk mayor Oleksandr Horcharenko. At least six people have been wounded, while further information is being clarified.

0740: Russian soldiers are refusing to fight in Ukraine, while others suffer from logistical issues involving their firearms and defensive equipment, says Ukraine's General Staff.

"According to our current information, some servicemembers of the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, of the 35th Combined Arms Army of Russia's Eastern Military District, which were withdrawn to a recovery area, due to significant losses of personnel, have refused to further participate in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine," the General Staff writes.

0721: U.S. intelligence is help Ukrainians neutralize Russian generals, reports the New York Times, citing sources in the U.S. security services. This has resulted in the high casualty rate among Russian generals.

According to the NYT, this assistance is part of U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to covertly provide Ukraine with real-time battlefield reconnaissance intelligence.

0710: Ukraine's Armed Forces have liberated several settlements on the administrative border between Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts, reports Ukraine's General Staff.

"Thanks to the successful actions of Ukrainian defenders, the enemy lost control over several settlements on the border between Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts," reads a morning briefing by the General Staff.

0632: Russia has already lost the war in Ukraine, said U.S. White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

"I think what's important to note and not lose sight of, is how the Russians have defined (their victory). And they have already lost - by their definition," Psaki said, adding that the Kremlin had planned to seize a notable amount of northern Ukraine, but was not successful.

0606: The Canadian embassy will soon reopen in Ukraine, announced Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, though she did not specify an exact date for this reopening.

0415: Recent Russian airstrikes have not impeded weapons deliveries to Ukraine, reports the U.S., citing conversations with Ukrainian partners.

"We know that that matériel, those weapons and systems are getting into Ukrainian hands," stated U.S. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby.

The Pentagon believes that Russian missile strikes are directed at important infrastructure targets in Ukraine.

"(The Russians) are attempting to hit what we asses to be critical infrastructure targets out towards the west (of the country). Electrical power, transportation hubs, that kind of thing. We think this is an effort to try to disrupt the Ukrainians abilities to replenish and reinforce themselves," Kirby clarified.

0333: Russian invaders attempted to send 27,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian grain to Egypt, but were refused. A vessel carrying the cargo turned back and headed in the direction of Syria and Lebanon.

The vessel in question is believed to be the Matros Pozinich, belonging to the sanctioned "United Shipbuilding Corporation" of Russia.

0149: Ukraine's Air Force destroyed nine enemy targets over the course of the previous day: two fighters, four drones, and three cruise missiles.

0114: Zelensky stated that the authorities are continuing negotiations regarding further Azovstal evacuation, which is currently being stormed by Russian troops."We're coming to an agreement and we hope to continue to rescue people from Azovstal, from Mariupol. There are still civilians there: women, children. To save them, we need to continue a ceasefire. The Ukrainian side is ready to facilitate this," the President stated.

0007: President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who was recently in Kyiv during a missile strike on the capital, and asked him for additional assistance in evacuating all the wounded Ukrainians trapped underneath the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.Zelensky thanked Guterres for his earlier assistance in the evacuation of 121 civilians from Azovstal, telling the Secretary-General that the evacuation was conducted under nearly constant Russian shelling.