Russia launched nearly 410 drones at Ukraine over the past day, and Ukraine’s air force said it downed or neutralised 388 of them. In Ternopil, strikes on industrial and infrastructure sites injured 10 people. In Kherson, a Russian drone hit a civilian bus today, killing at least two people and injuring seven.
In the Odesa region, drones damaged apartment blocks and port infrastructure that is central to Ukraine’s Black Sea export route. Ukraine’s air force said yesterday that Russia launched 6,583 long-range drones in April, the highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said this week that Russia had fired more than 1,300 strike drones, more than 1,000 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles over the previous week. AFP, citing Ukrainian air force data, said 88% of incoming drones and missiles were intercepted in April.
The Pentagon has ordered about 5,000 U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, and NATO said it was working with Washington to clarify the plan. Germany will still host about 35,000 American troops, including forces at Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl military hospital. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that the biggest threat to the transatlantic community was not external enemies but the alliance pulling apart. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the bloc was seeking specific details from Washington on the troop reduction.
Romania scrambled fighter jets today after a Russian drone was reported to have entered its airspace. The European Union said it would defend its interests after Donald Trump announced higher tariffs on cars.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Iranian rights activist Narges Mohammadi was hospitalised in Iran, her colleagues said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy imposed sanctions on five individuals over threats to Ukraine's national security.