Ukrainian Drones Target Russian Capital for Third Consecutive Night While 205 Prisoners of War Exchange Hands in UAE-Mediated Deal as Europe Announces Phase-Out of All Russian Energy Imports
Summary of the Day – May 6, 2025
Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow for the third consecutive night as Russia prepares for Victory Day celebrations, forcing airport closures just as China’s Xi Jinping and dozens of foreign leaders prepare to visit. Meanwhile, 205 Ukrainian defenders returned home in a UAE-mediated prisoner exchange, while Russian forces executed three Ukrainian POWs near Novopil. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi announced stabilization of the Pokrovsk front as a Russian missile strike in Sumy killed three people, including a 6-year-old child. On the diplomatic front, the European Commission unveiled plans to completely phase out Russian gas imports by 2027, while Trump suggested falling oil prices are pressuring Moscow toward negotiations.
Ukrainian relatives hug prisoner of war, Andriy, 23, who was in captivity for six months after arriving in Ukraine in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Ukraine and Russia swapped 205 prisoners of war today in an exchange mediated by the United Arab Emirates. (Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
Aerial Chess: Third Night of Drone Attacks on Moscow Disrupts Airport Operations
Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted three drones heading toward Moscow on Tuesday evening, in what marked the third consecutive night of aerial assaults on the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced temporary restrictions on air traffic over Moscow and several other Russian cities, including Kaluga, Tambov, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod. The alleged intercepts follow a larger drone attack overnight on Monday, when Russian officials claimed to have downed 19 Ukrainian drones approaching the capital from various directions.
These attacks come at a particularly sensitive time as Moscow prepares for Victory Day celebrations on May 9—a pivotal event on Russia’s patriotic calendar marking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. With Chinese President Xi Jinping and dozens of other foreign leaders expected to attend, the drone strikes serve as a reminder of Ukraine’s ability to project force deep into Russian territory, despite the Kremlin’s declared three-day ceasefire from May 8-10. Russian officials have already been forced to take counter-measures, including potential mobile internet restrictions on May 9, as Ukrainian drones rely heavily on these networks for navigation.
Freedom at Last: 205 Ukrainian Defenders Return in Major Prisoner Exchange
In one of the largest prisoner swaps of recent months, Ukraine secured the return of 205 of its soldiers in a one-for-one exchange with Russia mediated by the United Arab Emirates. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful exchange, noting that the returned prisoners included “young men and adult men from almost all types and branches of the military,” including defenders of Mariupol and veterans from across the front line.
This marks the fifth prisoner exchange of 2025 and the 64th since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The swap follows a larger exchange on April 19, when 277 Ukrainian soldiers returned home ahead of the Easter holiday. According to Ukrainian officials, the returned prisoners consisted of 202 enlisted men and three officers from various parts of the military and national guard. While this represents a significant diplomatic achievement, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has noted that Russia still holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians in detention, in addition to military prisoners of war.
Innocent Lives Lost: Russian Missile Strike Kills Child in Sumy Region
Russian forces launched a missile attack against a suburb of Sumy on May 6, killing three people—including a 6-year-old boy—and injuring 11 others. According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, Russia used a ballistic missile in the strike, which targeted civilian infrastructure at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time. A 20-year-old woman was killed at the scene, while the child and a 41-year-old man died en route to the hospital. Most of the injured were children, according to local authorities.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on a Sumy suburb. (Sumy Oblast Military Administration)
This attack continues a pattern of Russian strikes on Sumy Oblast, a northeastern region bordering Russia’s Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions. The area has suffered intensified bombardment in recent weeks, with residents often experiencing multiple attacks per day. Border areas face regular artillery and glide bomb attacks, while the regional capital of Sumy itself has been targeted by missile and drone strikes. Russian forces have reportedly been deploying small assault groups to infiltrate the region in an attempt to expand the front line.
Battlefield Stabilization: Ukrainian Forces Gain Tactical Initiative Near Pokrovsk
Ukraine has stabilized the situation in the Pokrovsk direction of Donetsk Oblast and seized tactical initiative in some areas, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on May 6. Pokrovsk, located about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk, has been one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front line since March, when Russian forces concentrated their main offensive efforts in this area.
Syrskyi specifically highlighted the performance of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skala,” describing it as a unit capable of effective active defense. The regiment has demonstrated its effectiveness near the village of Shevchenko, approximately three kilometers southwest of Pokrovsk, as well as during Ukraine’s 2022 Kharkiv offensive. Ukrainian forces have liberated approximately 16 square kilometers of territory near Pokrovsk in recent weeks, according to Syrskyi’s earlier announcements from mid-April.
War Crimes Documented: Russian Troops Execute Three Ukrainian POWs
Russian soldiers shot three unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war on May 3 near the village of Novopil in Donetsk Oblast, the regional prosecutor’s office reported on May 6. According to Ukrainian prosecutors, Russian troops captured three Ukrainian servicemen during assaults near Novopil, forced them to lay down their arms, and then executed them—a clear breach of the Geneva Conventions that qualifies as an international crime.
Ukrainian POWs arrive inside Ukraine after being released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating the incident, while Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations for a response. This case adds to Ukraine’s documentation of widespread violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russian forces, including the execution of 177 captured Ukrainian soldiers recorded as of mid-December 2024. Visual evidence of such atrocities continues to emerge, reinforcing concerns over Moscow’s systematic violations of international law.
Targeting Europe’s Energy Dependency: EU Announces Plan to Ban Russian Gas by 2027
After years of reducing its reliance on Russian energy, the European Union unveiled a comprehensive plan on May 6 to completely phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. The European Commission presented a detailed roadmap that will see all new contracts for Russian gas prohibited and spot contracts terminated by the end of 2025, followed by a complete ban on remaining imports under long-term contracts by 2027.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen emphasized the significance of the move, declaring: “No more shall Euros go into Russia’s war chest. Your gas will be banned.” The plan represents the bloc’s most determined effort yet to end its energy dependency on Russia, which critics argue has long compromised EU sovereignty while funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine. EU reliance on Russian energy has already dropped significantly since 2021, with the Russian share of gas imports falling from 45% to 19%. Member states will be required to submit individual phase-out plans by the end of the year.
Economic Pressure: Trump Links Oil Prices to Russia’s Peace Incentives
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on May 5 that Russia has grown more willing to negotiate an end to its war against Ukraine following a sharp decline in oil prices. “I think Russia, with the price of oil right now, oil has gone down, we are in a good position to settle, they want to settle. Ukraine wants to settle,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. The roughly $15-per-barrel drop since the start of the year has strained the Kremlin’s finances, which are already burdened by soaring military expenditures.
Oil and gas revenues accounted for nearly 30% of Russia’s budget in early 2025, according to government data. Reuters reported on May 6 that the average price for Russia’s Urals and ESPO crude blends fell to $48.9 per barrel, the lowest level since May 2023 and about 40% lower than the $82.6 per barrel budgeted by the Russian government for 2025. Despite Western sanctions and price caps aimed at curbing Moscow’s oil revenues, energy exports remain a crucial funding source for Russia’s war effort, making the price collapse particularly concerning for the Kremlin.
Victory Day Guest List: Moscow Releases Names of Attendees Amid Controversy
The Kremlin has released a list of countries and foreign leaders planning to attend its contentious May 9 Victory Day parade, with military personnel from 13 countries expected to march through Moscow and at least 29 world leaders in attendance. According to Russian state media reports on May 6, troops from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Egypt, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam will participate in the parade.
The foreign leaders attending include those from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palestine, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Representatives from North Korea and Russian-controlled territories, as well as defense ministers from 31 countries, will also be present. This attendance list significantly exceeds last year’s parade, when only nine foreign leaders joined Putin on Red Square.
Unauthorized Pentagon Action: US Defense Secretary Temporarily Halted Ukraine Aid
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office ordered a temporary halt of military aid flights to Ukraine in early February without notifying the White House, Reuters reported on May 6, citing unnamed sources. The suspension affected 11 shipments of artillery shells and weapons from Dover Air Force Base and a U.S. base in the United Arab Emirates. The order was issued about a week after President Trump began his second term, causing immediate concern in Kyiv and among officials in Poland, who contacted Washington for answers.
Top national security officials at the White House, Pentagon, and State Department were reportedly unaware of the decision and could not respond to inquiries. The flights resumed after a three-day pause following an alleged intervention from U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The unauthorized order reportedly originated from Hegseth’s office after a January 30 Oval Office meeting on Ukraine, where cutting off aid was discussed but not approved by Trump. The canceled flights reportedly cost U.S. Transportation Command $2.2 million, with the weapons having been previously approved under the Biden administration and authorized by Congress.
Ukrainian Ingenuity: New “Dragon H73” Air Defense System Unveiled
Ukraine has unveiled a domestically produced, improvised mobile air defense system that combines Cold War-era Soviet missiles with an American Humvee, calling it the Dragon H73. The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the creation of the weapon, describing it as a powerful tool against drones and tactical aircraft. “This mobile firearm is based on the first Humvee,” said the unit’s commander, known by the call sign ‘Shaman.’ “It’s designed to defeat both tactical aircraft and large drones such as Orlan or Shahed. We use it 24/7, day and night.”
The Dragon H73 is armed with a twin launcher carrying R-73 Soviet air-to-air missiles, originally developed in the 1980s for fighter jets. In Ukraine’s version, the missile system has been mounted onto a Humvee chassis, creating what has been described as a battlefield hybrid or “Frankenstein” weapon. To train operators effectively, the brigade is using modern simulators that replicate the exact controls and displays of the real system, allowing personnel to practice in realistic conditions before deploying the system in combat.
The Wave of Destruction: Russian Attacks Kill Five Across Ukraine
At least five people were killed and 33 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on May 6. Russia launched 136 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones, with Ukrainian air defenses shooting down 54 drones while 70 others disappeared from radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm defense systems. The human toll was spread across multiple regions: three residents were killed and 16 injured in Donetsk Oblast; 11 people were wounded in Kharkiv Oblast, including four in the city of Kharkiv where Russia attacked four districts with suicide drones; one person was killed and three injured in Kherson Oblast; in Odesa Oblast, a Russian drone attack killed one person and damaged civilian infrastructure; and three women were injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
First responders work at the site of Russian drone attack in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. (State Emergency Service / Telegram)
These attacks continue as Moscow rejects calls for a complete ceasefire and escalates strikes targeting civilian areas throughout Ukraine. The ongoing aerial campaign demonstrates Russia’s continued ability to inflict damage on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure despite Western-supplied air defense systems, which continue to face shortages of interceptor missiles amid the sheer volume of Russian attacks.
Border Skirmishes: Ukrainian Forces Continue Limited Attacks in Kursk Oblast
Ukrainian forces continued limited attacks across the international border near Tetkino and Novyi Put in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on May 6. Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Novyi Put and Volfino while fighting continued near the railway station in southern Tetkino. Several sources claimed that Ukrainian forces had seized up to two streets in southwestern Tetkino, though this has not been independently confirmed.
Ukrainian forces have also continued drone, air, and artillery strikes aimed at isolating Russian units in and near Tetkino. Geolocated footage published on May 6 shows Ukrainian forces conducting a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guided munition strike on a Russian position in southwestern Tetkino. Russian sources claim that Ukrainian forces are conducting drone and artillery strikes against Russian ground lines of communication to isolate Russian units in the area, with Ukrainian drones reportedly interdicting and maintaining fire control over an unspecified section of the Tetkino-Karyzh highway.
Parliamentary Support: Ukraine Backs Minerals Deal with US
Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on foreign policy has backed the ratification of the minerals deal with the United States, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced on May 6. The agreement, signed on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund between Kyiv and Washington and grants the US special access to projects developing Ukraine’s natural resources. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, will vote on the agreement’s ratification on May 8.
Eleven members of the foreign policy committee supported the decision, with one abstention and two members not participating in the vote. Following the signing of the agreement, Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is scheduled to hold separate meetings with members of each parliamentary faction on May 6-7 to explain details of the deal. The agreement creates a Reconstruction Investment Fund managed in equal partnership by both countries, though specific details on its operation have not been fully disclosed to the public.
Sanctions Expansion: EU Prepares 17th Package Against Russia
The European Commission is preparing a new set of Russia sanctions, EU diplomats said on May 6. The proposed package—the 17th set of sanctions adopted by the EU since 2022—will include adding more individuals and over 100 vessels associated with Russia’s shadow fleet to the sanctions list. The package is coming sooner than expected, with sources describing it as “simple” and likely to be quickly approved by member states, with initial discussions expected to take place on May 7.
The sanctions will include more stringent export controls, specifically targeting advanced technologies and goods that can be used by Russia’s military. Additionally, vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet—a network of ships that Moscow allegedly uses to circumvent Western sanctions, export oil and gas, and buy military supplies—will be targeted. More than 50 individuals and entities are expected to be sanctioned, including five in China, along with 31 companies accused of aiding Russia’s military or helping it evade sanctions.
Baltic Tensions: Latvia Warns of Russian Naval Provocations
Russian military behavior in the Baltic Sea region is “increasing the threat of accidental military incidents,” Latvia’s Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) reported on May 6. According to the annual report, Russia is using aggressive tactics such as unauthorized airspace incursions and close encounters with NATO ships and aircraft, with the purpose likely being “to intimidate and test the potential opponent” while potentially attempting to discredit the reactions and defense capabilities of regional countries.
Despite ongoing Russian military restructuring along its Baltic flank, including the division of the former Western Military District into the newly formed Leningrad and Moscow Military Districts, MIDD noted that these changes have not yet resulted in a significant boost in Russia’s combat power near Latvia, as most military resources remain involved in the war in Ukraine. However, Russia and Belarus are planning to hold the Zapad 2025 (West 2025) joint military exercises later this year, continuing a series of drills held every two years since 2009.
Border Defense: Lithuania to Mine Russian and Belarusian Frontiers
Lithuania will invest 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) over the next decade to strengthen defenses along its borders with Russia and Belarus, the Defense Ministry announced on May 6. The initiative aims to “block and slow” a possible invasion, with about 800 million euros allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression. This follows Western intelligence warnings of a potential large-scale war in Europe within the next five years.
Lithuanian officials have prioritized the defense of the Suwalki Corridor, a strategic stretch connecting Lithuania to Poland that is seen as vital for NATO’s eastern flank. The country had previously announced plans to raise its defense spending to between 5% and 6% of GDP annually from 2026 to 2030, citing the threat of Russian aggression in the region. In March, Lithuania joined Estonia, Latvia, and Poland in declaring their intent to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines, to further strengthen their defensive capabilities.
Looking Ahead: Diplomatic Paths Amid Continued Violence
As the Victory Day celebrations approach, the contradictions of the moment come into sharp focus—ceremonial displays of Russian military might against a backdrop of vulnerability to Ukrainian drone strikes, diplomatic overtures alongside continued missile attacks on civilian targets, and prisoner exchanges occurring simultaneous to fresh casualties. The proposed three-day ceasefire remains uncertain, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning that Russia will provide an “adequate response” if Ukraine continues its attacks during the declared truce.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Russia’s proposed ceasefire materializes and holds, how Ukraine responds to this limited pause, and whether diplomatic initiatives gain any traction amid continued fighting. Meanwhile, the stabilization of the Pokrovsk front offers Ukraine a moment of military respite, even as Russian forces continue their deadly strikes on civilian targets across the country. The battle of wills between Moscow and Kyiv continues unabated, with neither side showing signs of fundamental compromise despite the mounting human and economic costs of this protracted conflict.