Newsletter 29/05/2026
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Romanian Defense Ministry confirms drone that hit apartment building belongs to Russia
Romania's Ministry of National Defence confirmed that the drone which crashed into an apartment building in the center of the city of Galați was Russian.
During the night of May 29 the Russian Federation resumed drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine near the Romanian border.
“A drone entered Romanian airspace, was tracked by radar systems as far as the Southern area of Galați municipality, and crashed onto the roof of a residential apartment building, the impact causing a fire,” the statement said.
Specialized teams from Romania’s General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the Interior Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, and police are working at the scene.
The ministry also stated that radar systems detected other drones flying near Romanian airspace. Romania’s National Military Command Center alerted the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to coordinate civil protection measures. Emergency RO-Alert notifications were sent to residents of the Tulcea, Galați, and Brăila counties.
To intercept the UAVs, two F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets were scrambled at 01:19 from the 86th Air Base in Fetești, supported by an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter of the Romanian Air Force. Pilots were authorized to engage targets throughout the air alert period.
According to AGERPRES, around 70 people were evacuated or escaped on their own from the apartment building after the combat drone struck it in the morning.
An investigation by specialists from Romania’s Intelligence Service found that the drone’s entire explosive payload detonated upon impact with the building.
According to the Defense Ministry’s press release, two injured people were taken to Galați County Emergency Clinical Hospital.
Citizens were urged to follow official recommendations and monitor government announcements
Zelensky calls for increased pressure on Russia after drone strikes house in Romania
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need to increase pressure on Russia following a Russian drone strike on a house in Romania and an attack on the Odesa region.
FM Sybiha: Russian drone incident in Romania confirms threat of Russian aggression against all of Europe
The strike by a Russian drone on a high-rise building in Galați, Romania, has confirmed that Russia’s aggression poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire region and Europe; therefore, supporting Ukraine and strengthening its air defense capabilities remain critically important.
Civilians injured on EU territory: von der Leyen reacts to Russian drone strike in Romania
The European Union has promised to increase pressure on Moscow after a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Romania and injured civilians.
Finland provides Ukraine with new military aid package worth €128M
The Finnish government will send Ukraine a new defense assistance package valued at approximately EUR 128 million.
Alexander Stubb approved the decision on May 29, 2026, following a proposal from the government.
This will be Finland’s 33rd package of material assistance to Ukraine. Its value amounts to around EUR 128 million.
It is noted that the total value of defense materials Finland has supplied to Ukraine has already reached EUR 3.4 billion.
UN adds Russian army to blacklist for sexual violence during war in Ukraine
In its annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, the United Nations has for the first time added Russian and Israeli forces to its blacklist.
The 35-page report, published late Thursday by Israel’s mission to the UN, includes 77 governmental and non-governmental organizations from twelve countries suspected of committing or being responsible for sexual violence in conflicts around the world. The report states that the number of such incidents rose sharply in 2025 compared to 2024.
Israeli forces were added to the blacklist for the first time over the treatment of detained Palestinians. Israel rejects the allegations.
“Russian armed and security forces were also blacklisted for the first time this year for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians detained during the war in Ukraine,” the report states.
The report notes that Russian authorities have consistently denied access to UN human rights investigators. However, investigators were still able to verify 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories involving prisoners of war and civilians. The overwhelming majority of victims were men.
In addition, human rights organizations in Ukraine documented 31 cases of conflict-related sexual violence involving prisoners of war and civilians, most of which occurred before 2025.
War
Russia faces $28B shortfall in war funding despite rising oil prices – FT
Russia’s spending on the war against Ukraine is expected to exceed its budget allocations by at least 2 trillion rubles ($28 billion) this year.
Russia’s attack on vessels in Black Sea: Turkey says two of its citizens were injured
Turkey stated that two of its citizens were wounded as a result of a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was traveling from Odesa.
“Madiar” showcases nighttime strikes on Russian military targets in Crimea and TOT
The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck two Russian air defense systems in the temporarily occupied Crimea overnight, as well as enemy logistics and a mobile fire group in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions.
SSU strikes Russia’s Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station, Temryuk port gas terminal
Specialists from the SSU’s Alpha Special Operations Center targeted the strategic Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station, which has its own storage tank facility, in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, as well as the gas terminal at the port of Temryuk in Krasnodar Krai.
Ukraine confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region
Ukrainian forces struck a number of key Russian military and infrastructure targets on May 28 and overnight into May 29, both inside Russia and in the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy regions.
Russia attacks three foreign merchant vessels in Black Sea overnight – Kuleba
Russian drones attacked three foreign merchant ships in the Black Sea during the night of May 29.
Special Operations Forces strike two Russian Tor-M2 air defense systems in Zaporizhzhia region
Drones operated by the Middle-strike units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces (SOF) hit two Russian Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region.
Russian troops ordered to capture Stepnohirsk by end of June – military spokesperson
Spox Voloshyn: Enemy reinforcing Kinburn Spit with special forces amid fears of its liberation
AFU deny Russian claims of capture of Novovasylivka in Kharkiv region
War update: 267 clashes on front lines in past day, heavy fighting in Pokrovsk, Huliaipole sectors
Ukrainian forces strike Russian radar in Crimea, drone control centers in Donetsk region
Russian army loses 960 troops in war against Ukraine over past day
Shellings
Russian forces strike gas infrastructure in Kharkiv, Sumy regions
School burns down after Russian drone strike in Chernihiv region
Politics
Hungary’s Magyar wants Ukraine to fulfil 11 minority demands ahead of meeting with Zelensky
Hungary believes that all 11 points set out in its proposal to Ukraine on addressing issues related to the Hungarian minority must be implemented in order to open a “new chapter” in bilateral relations.
Ukraine, Estonia strengthen cooperation on critical infrastructure protection
The Government Office of Estonia and the Administration of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP) signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at exchanging knowledge and practical experience in the protection of critical infrastructure.
US warns Russia against strikes on Kyiv, urges immediate ceasefire talks
U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Tammy Bruce has condemned Russia’s massive attacks on Kyiv as an “inexplicable, dangerous, and barbaric escalation” and called for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Ukraine urges partners at UN to boost air defense support tenfold amid escalating Russian attacks
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, has called on European and U.S. partners to increase air defense assistance to Ukraine tenfold.
Security
SBU arrests 16-year-old accused of directing enemy airstrikes in Kharkiv region
Military counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a 16-year-old schoolboy in the Kharkiv region who had been recruited by Russian forces and was directing air strikes in the Chuhuiv and Lozova districts.
According to the investigation, the teenager came to the attention of Russian intelligence services while searching Telegram channels for easy ways to make money.
In one of the chats, he was offered quick earnings in exchange for adjusting missile, bomb, and drone strikes.
After recruitment, the boy was tasked with identifying anti-aircraft missile systems and radar stations, which Russian forces were preparing to target in a new wave of attacks.
To do this, he traveled around the area on a moped, taking photos, recording videos, and marking the locations of Ukrainian air defense systems on Google Maps.
It has been established that when he could not film potential targets, he sent voice messages to his Russian handler with detailed descriptions of mapped locations.
For secrecy, the schoolboy communicated with the Russian intelligence officer using coded language. Their conversations began with pre-agreed code words.
According to available data, his next task was to install a disguised roadside camera with remote access for Russian forces on a major highway.
In this way, Russia hoped to track the timing and approximate number of Ukrainian armored columns moving toward the front line.
SBU officers identified the minor in advance, documented his activities, and detained him while he was photographing Ukrainian military equipment.
During the arrest, authorities seized a smartphone containing evidence of his cooperation with the enemy.