Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update
8th May 2026
This week, the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and West Asia haven’t been as active as they have been in the past but both the Zionists and the Ukrainian Nazis have done their share of killing civilians though the latter far exceeds the former in terms of destructive power and deadliness. It’s been a week of anticipation; waiting for the US to decide if and when it will attack, while the Trump team is distorting reality more than any politicians in history; though their fictional form was provided by Orwell in ‘1984’. Once again I have found it necessary to provide separate Updates for Ukraine and Iran - which you can view here..
It seems that US deliveries of military materiel to Europe, especially HIMARS and NASAMS, are being delayed due to the Iran War. This will impact on Ukraine rather than anyone else. However, some, including the governor of the Bank of Greece, believe that the blocking of Hormuz will lead to a recession affecting the whole of the Eurozone.
In Ukraine, following the release of the latest Mindich tapes, which implicate Defence Council Secretary, Rustem Umerov, RADA member Fyodor Venislavsky has called for the former Defence Minister to be sacked. You can read more at RT. Umerov visited Witkoff in Florida this week.
Putin has declared a truce from the 8th May until midnight on the 9th May to celebrate Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. Surprisingly, Zelensky announced a ceasefire for the night of 5th/6th May But the Russians did not recognise the ceasefire. In return, Zelensky will not honour Putin’s ceasefire, according to Maria Zakharova, who has advised foreign officials to leave Kiev. If Ukraine hits Moscow on Victory Day, the Russians have said they will retaliate by striking the centre of Kiev. But the foreign officials have spurned Zakharova’s advice.
A recent survey of Ukrainians indicates that 45% of the people would give up territory on exchange for peace and that 64% are fed up with the war. I find both figures surprisingly low. Another survey indicated that more Ukrainians view corruption (54%) as a greater threat to their country than the war (39%).
The cost of food and energy is skyrocketing in Ukraine.
Putin has sacked the Head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, General Viktor Afzalov, due to the poor performance of Russian air defences against Ukrainian drones. General Alexander Chaiko will replace him. The only surprise here is that it has taken so long for this to happen. A while ago Russian forces were deployed to improve ‘domestic’ air defences, particularly around oil facilities, but the situation has deteriorated rather than improved. In spite of the attacks on Russian oil, its revenues have increased rather than decreased as the Duran boys discuss here. The volume of Russian crude oil exported in April was no different to that of March but the price of oil has increased considerably with a corresponding increase in Russia’s revenue and a reduction in its budget deficit. The Ukrainian attacks have focused on Russia’s stocks of refined oil which is used for domestic consumption but have not resulted in shortages.
Most of the Europeans will not benefit from Russian oil or from its LNG which will be cut off this summer. Since LNG supplies are no longer coming from Qatar this means that Europe will be totally dependent on expensive US LNG in order to survive. Russia will sell its surplus oil to China where its large oil refineries have been told to ignore US sanctions when purchasing crude (see below). If the US retaliates, the Chinese will respond in kind.
It’s been an interesting week.
Odessa May 2nd 2014
‘Never forget; never forgive’.
The massacre by Ukrainian nationalists who killed 48 Russians in a burning trade union building in Odessa 12 years ago is one of those atrocities that can never be forgiven. This followed the US/CIA backed Maidan Coup earlier in the year. You can read more about the tragedy here or at Sputnik.
Ukraine Building Defences
Ukraine is engaged in the construction of large scale defences to protect 45 cities using barbed wire; trenches; anti-tank ditches and wire fencing. The Circular defense of Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka will be part of this project.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
1st/2nd May
Overnight, Ukrainian drones attacked Kaluga; Voronezh; Tula; Rostov; Novgorod; Leningrad and Moscow Regions. In Belgorod, a driver was injured when a drone hit his car. A total of 215 drones were shot down over Russian territory at night.
2nd/3rd May
Overnight, a drone killed a 77 year old man near Moscow. On May 2nd, a total of 484 drones were shot down over Russian territory while overnight 60 drones were destroyed over Leningrad Region. Some believe that these drones could have traveled to Leningrad region via Estonia where local authorities have declared ‘air danger’ several times. Kaluga and Tula were also attacked. During the night, 334 drones were shot down over Russian territory. The Ukrainians also attacked the external radiation control laboratory at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. There were no casualties, no significant damage and the plant continues to operate normally.
3rd/4th May
Overnight, 10 drones were shot down over Moscow region where a drone hit an apartment building close to the Kremlin, according to this report while 24 more drones were destroyed over Rostov. In Bryansk, drones injured 2 while in Belgorod 6 civilians were hurt and a father and son killed by a drone attack. During the evening in Belgorod, 7 were injured and 1 killed by drones. In Zaporozhye, a 15 year old was killed by a drone. A total of 117 drones were shot down over Russian territory at night.
4th/5th May
During the 4th May, 507 drones were shot down over Russian territory while another 289 were destroyed overnight.
5th/6th May
On the 5th May, 93 drones were destroyed over Russian territory between 14.00 and 21.00 Moscow time. Overnight in Bryansk, 1 person was killed and 5 injured by drone attacks. 2 people were injured in Kursk while in Belgorod 3 children were injured and a tractor driver killed by drone attacks.
6th/7th May
Overnight in Bryansk, 13 people were injured by drone attacks, while 8 drones headed towards Moscow were shot down. In Belgorod, 3 civilians were injured by drone attacks while 2 men were killed in Kherson.
Another civilian was killed and several injured in an attack on a mini-bus. Overnight, 347 drones were shot down over Russian territory.
Some Ukrainian drones have been using Latvian airspace to attack Russian ports in the Gulf of Finland. Unfortunately for the Latvians, several drones went off course and hit their territory, including an empty oil depot at Rezekne. and a locomotive. For the third day in a row, the Ukrainians have attacked the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, according to Sputnik. No significant damage was caused. Today, a total of 50 drones were shot down on their way to Moscow. Between 12.00 and 16.00 on the 7th May, 83 drones were shot down over Russian territory.
7th/8th May
Overnight in Belgorod, a drone attack on a minibus killed 1 and injured 2 more while 2 men were injured when a drone hit their car. Many more were injured in attacks on villages in Belgorod. Yesterday and overnight, a total of 431 drones were shot down over Russian territory. 26 of these were headed towards Moscow. Ukrainian drone attacks have forced the suspension of flights at 13 airports in Southern Russia. You can read more at Tass.
The Sea War
1st/2nd May
Overnight, several drones were shot down over the Black Sea, Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
2nd/3rd May
Overnight, several drones were shot down over Crimea.
5th/6th May
Overnight, drones killed 5 at Dzhankoy in Crimea. The amphibious assault boats that protect the Kerch Bridge were also attacked. 14 drones were shot down over Sevastopol.
6th/7th May
Overnight, drones attacked Crimea; the Sea of Azov; the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
7th/8th May
Overnight, a number of drones were shot down over the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and Crimea.
The Air War
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
1st/2nd May
Overnight, the Russians attacked Sumy, Balaklia, Kharkov, Odessa, Izmail and Kilya. Energy infrastructure in Nikolaev was also hit causing a massive fire.
2nd/3rd May
According to the War Chronicle:
At night, arrivals of Geraniums were noted in Kyiv. 37 Geraniums attacked the port infrastructure in Illichivsk and Oleksandrivka, Odessa region.
A ship repair plant in Izmail (Odessa) was also attacked. The Russians have also targeted energy infrastructure in Nikolaev; gas stations in Kharkov and a locomotive in Krivoy Rog. Dnepropetrovsk was also attacked by Geraniums.
3rd/4th May
Overnight, the Russians attacked Chernigov; Sumy and Nikolaev.
4th/5th May
Overnight, the Russians attacked industrial enterprises, along with gas and railway infrastructure in Poltava. 3 people died and 31 were injured in the attacks. Kiev; Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov were also attacked.
5th/6th May
According to a Ukrainian source, 5 civilians were killed and 12 injured in a Russian attack on Kramatorsk. Naftogas reported serious damage from Russian strikes as you can read here. Overnight, geraniums attacked the Odessa ports and Dnepropetrovsk.
6th/7th May
Overnight, the Russians attacked Kharkov; Zaporozhye; Krivoy Rog and Odessa. In Kharkov, a large ammunition depot situated in a residential area was destroyed.
7th/8th May
Overnight, oil facilities were attacked at Pivdenyyi port in Odessa while railway hubs were hit in Nikolaev.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
2nd/3rd May
According to Zelensky, 2 tankers were hit in waters close to Novorossiysk. I have seen no confirmation of this.
7th/8th May
On the 7th May, Ukrainian drones flew 1,500 km and attacked an oil pumping station at Perm for a second time.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports - Ukrainian Losses
w/e 17th April 7,260 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 685.
w/e 24th April 8,225 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 654.
w/e 1st May 8,010 Casualties killed and wounded. The Russian MoD did not provide its usual report this week but Tass provided these casualty figures.
w/e 8th May 8,400 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 784.
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Burluk
By the end of the week, according to Rybar
On the Burluk direction, assault troops advanced toward the vicinity of Symonivka, and forward infantry groups are already operating on the approaches to Shesterivka and Losivka. Russian forces also drove the enemy from several more strongpoints in the Severodonetsk Nature Reserve, taking control of most of the forest massif.
Sumy
According to the Majors:
In the Sumy region, the assault troops of the Army Group “North” have advanced in fifteen sectors (up to 250 meters). Firefights continue in Kondratovka and its surroundings. The enemy’s attempts to transfer manpower towards Miropolye in the direction of the Malaya Rybica village are being thwarted by our drone operators.
Kharkov
According to the Majors:
In the Kharkov Region, on the Volchansk direction, the Army Group “North” is conducting offensive actions (up to 400 m). Intense firefights continue in the forested areas of the Volchansk district, along the right bank of the Volchya River, and in Chaikovka. In the forested area, the enemy attempted an unsuccessful counterattack.
Lyman
Kupyansk
According to the Majors:
There are positional battles in Kupyansk, in the area of Kurilovka, Kovsharovka, and Kupyansk-Uzlovoe.
Slavyansk
According to the Two Majors:
On the Slavyansk direction, the Russian Armed Forces repelled attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of Dibrova. There are battles for access to Ray-Aleksandrovka.
Konstantinovka
According to the Majors, the Ukrainians are launching heavy counter attacks in this Direction.
Dobropillia
Pokrovsk
Guliaipole
According to Rybar:
West of Huliaipole, the enemy continues attempting to infiltrate in the vicinity of Starourkrainka and Zaliznodorozhnе. Meanwhile, along the Huliaipole – Volshebne line, Russian Armed Forces continue active offensive operations, but still with small groups. The enemy is gradually being pushed westward through the hedgerows along the defensive line previously prepared by the AFU on the approaches to Novoselіvka.
East Zaporozhye
According to Rybar:
In the East Zaporizhia direction, fighting continues on the western bank of the Haichur, where the enemy previously conducted extremely active counterattacks.
Zaporozhye
Things are not going well for the Russians in Zaporozhye region. According to the Majors:
From the Zaporozhye Front, information is coming about a worsening situation in Primorsk and Stepnogorsk: the enemy is counterattacking, occupying positions previously taken by our forces.
West Zaporozhye
According to Rybar:
The situation on the West Zaporizhia direction remains extremely tense. The AFU is advancing in the Kamianske area, breaking through Russian Armed Forces defenses. If the enemy manages to commit reserves, they have every chance of pushing through to Pyatykhatky and beyond. Combined with the increasing number of strikes on Enerhodar, Kamianka, Vasylivka, and Mykhailivka, this appears to be exactly what the AFU is focused on.
The Economic War
Trump has imposed sanctions on China for purchasing Iranian oil but China will ignore them. Xi has issued an order prohibiting Chinese refineries from conforming to US sanction requests. According to the Global Times:
China shall not recognize, enforce, or give effect to the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US, which listed five Chinese petrochemical enterprises on the Specially Designated Nationals List and imposed asset freezes and transaction bans on grounds of alleged oil transactions with Iran.
I am not sure how the US will or can respond.
Iran War Creating Oil Crisis for the US
One of America’s objectives in prosecuting the Iran war was to harm China by interrupting or restricting its energy supply, according to Jason Zaharis. But there is only one oil market where Iran and the Russians exert a great deal of influence. In consequence, the US, which burns much more oil than anyone else, is in a disadvantageous position and is suffering ‘gas’ prices of more than $5 a gallon at the pump and airlines closures due to the cost of fuel. The stock markets are collapsing and inflation rising - so things are not going well for the American people who did not vote for any of this. Trump’s attempts to reduce the price of crude through a continuous barrage of false statements have been partially successful but sooner or later the markets will wise up. If you remember, Trump said that $200 dollars a barrel is a price worth paying to defeat Iran. I don’t think history will be kind to this man.
According to Zaharis:
Trump’s legacy will now be one of George W. Bush and Herbert Hoover combined. A man who launched an unjustified illegal war and plunged the world into a decade of economic recession on a scale that is worse than the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, and the 1973 oil embargo combined.
World Politics
Drunken sailor Hegseth is to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following instructions from the Donald. This appears to be in retaliation to Mad Merz’s criticism of the US, according to Zero Hedge and Tass. Many Germans will be pleased to see them go. Serbia’s Aleksander Vucic believes this is a sign that relations between the US and Europe have reached a point of ‘no return’ - which is probably true. Trump has also threatened troop withdrawals from Italy and Spain whose leaders are not being sufficiently supportive of his war against Iran.
Trump and his family appear to be making big bucks out of the Iran war. b and commentators discuss the matter at the MoA. Trump’s fortune, now worth $6.5 billion, has increased considerably since he was elected.
Hands Off Cuba
766 delegates from 36 countries gathered in the Cuban Capital in support of Cuba and in opposition to imperialism. They are all opposed to the threats against Cuba, and Venezuela; the kidnap of Maduro and his wife; the aggression against Iran and the genocide in Gaza.
Mad Merz
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz:
“On social media, anyone can anonymously voice their opinion and express their thoughts. I find this regrettable.”
40 years ago free speech was indispensable, now it’s ‘regrettable’. How sad the world has become. Poor Merz’s coalition is on the brink of collapse having failed to deliver on any of the election promises he made and a resultant approval rating of just 11%. The AfD is waiting in the wings.
Weidel Wisdom
According to AfD leader Alice Weidel:
Billions of euros are not enough for Zelensky, he wants more and urgently….To be honest, I don’t understand anymore how to explain to Germans that billions and billions continue to be sent to Ukraine: for armament, weapons, financial aid. More than 90 billion have already been sent to Ukraine in the form of a loan, but this is not enough for Zelensky. He wants even more, says that it’s not enough, we urgently need more. And in addition, the German federal government is also transferring a whole modern, fully functioning gas power station - and such gas stations are extremely necessary for us ourselves.
World Energy Crisis
According to the European Commissioner for Energy, the world is facing the most serious energy crisis in history:
Since the start of the war against Iran, EU countries have overpaid for energy imports by more than €30 billion. The EU is preparing for a fuel shortage, primarily aviation fuel. Even if the war ends quickly, it may take several years for the situation to return to normal. Brussels is building up reserves and considering emergency measures to distribute energy resources.
Romanian Government Collapse
The pro-European Government coalition, led by Ilie Boojan (pictured), suffered a defeat in a no confidence vote over its handling of the economy. But the coalition is likely to survive with elections due in 2028.
Protests
Manilla
Trump-Netanyahu effigy burned in Manilla May Day rally.
Yemen
Massive rallies were held across Yemen after Friday prayers in support of Gaza and the Palestinians.
Gaza
According to Saba News:
Leftist forces and Palestinian labor organizations in the Gaza Strip expressed their rejection on Saturday of the international silence regarding the dire humanitarian and living conditions faced by Palestinian workers under the siege and economic restrictions imposed by the Israeli enemy on the Strip.
Havana
Thousands demonstrated in the Cuban capital against USraeli aggression in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and praised the Iranians for fighting back.
Israel
Hundreds gathered in Israeli cities on Saturday to protest against the right wing Netanyahu government. According to TeleSUR, they were:
demanding democratic safeguards, a ceasefire with Lebanon, and the creation of a state commission of inquiry into the failures that allowed the Hamas-led operation on October 7.
The emerging Multi-Polar World
China Bites Back
China has announced that any shipping companies using the Panama canal will be excluded from Chinese ports in retaliation for the US’s role in closing the two ports China was using on the canal - according to Alastair Crooke. As I have said above, China has already prohibited its companies from abiding by US sanction demands. It is now illegal for Chinese companies and banks to comply with US sanctions. The war between the dying hegemon and the emerging MPWO is heating up.
That’s it for another eventful week. Many thanks for you views; subscriptions; shares; follows; likes and comments. Have a good week - Rob.
A little history on the May 2nd massacre, and the May 9th celebration.
https://wagelaborer.podbean.com/e/may-9th-2026-and-may-2nd-2014/
Thanks for the update Rob. Well compiled again and much appreciated.
Sad that the ceasefire in the Persian Gulf doesn't seem to have lasted but then it is impossible to get a real ceasefire with the likes of Trump and the zionists anyway so was to be expected sooner or later.
Apparently Zelensky, in his cocaine fuelled humour, has 'given' Russia his permission to hold the victory parade today.
Those Liutyi? drones that Ukraine uses seem quite effective for spreading fear, death and destruction.
The multi strike hit on Cheboksary with so called 'flamingo' Western/Ukraine FP5 missiles looked ominous as well.
Like you say in the report an aerospace chief was fired, possibly as a result of these daily attacks.
Simplicus' breakdown on the route these things are taking over the Caspian sea and Western Kazakhstan perhaps unlocks the mystery of where they are coming from.
Of course routing weapons of death through your country to another seems fine in the globalist playbook.
It is an act of war though, and the chickens are coming home to roost for Finland and the Baltic states.
As ever Russia and China are the adults in the room.