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Russia’s war against Ukraine

A colleague reacts to the portrait of 40-year-old British volunteer and EOD technician Christopher Lee Garrett during a public memorial in honor of him at Independence Square in Kyiv on May 17, 2025. The Manx bomb disposal specialist who had been helping to train troops fighting in Ukraine has died after he was severely injured in an incident near Izium, in the east of Ukraine, on May 13, 2025. (Photo by Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end ‘bloodbath.’ “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Moscow questions Kyiv’s authority, says Ukraine’s choice of signatory key to any peace deal. “For Russia, the most important and principal matter when signing documents between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations is the identity of the person authorized to sign on behalf of Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Ukraine’s Security Service begins preparations for 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap with Russia. The planned exchange follows an agreement reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025.

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1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange likely to take place next week, Ukraine intelligence chief says. A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia involving around 1,000 POWs from each side is expected to take place next week, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief said on air on May 17, following an agreement reached in Istanbul.

Russia sentences Australian fighting for Ukraine to 13 years in prison in sham trial. The so-called Supreme Court of the Russian-controlled Luhansk Oblast found Jenkins guilty under Russian criminal law for participating in armed conflict as a mercenary.

Ukrainian drones strike Russian ammunition depot in occupied Crimea, source says. The depot, located near a key highway between Simferopol and Alushta, reportedly housed military equipment, ammunition, and fuel storage facilities. Local residents reportedly described thick smoke over the military compound.

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Three years into full-scale war, Eurovision still hasn’t solved its Russia problem

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in neutral Switzerland, but politics are center stage. While debate continues over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza, Russia — banned from the contest since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — continues to cast a shadow over the event.

Photo: Jens Büttner / Picture Alliance via Getty Images

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How Russia’s Shaheds are getting more dangerous — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring down ballistic missiles. But Russia’s preferred deep-strike weapon — the Shahed drone — has gotten some major upgrades since the start of the year.

Photo: Jose Colon / Anadolu via Getty Images

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Human cost of Russia’s war

Russian drone attack in Kyiv Oblast kills 1, injures 3. An overnight Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast killed one person and injured three more, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported on May 18.

Russian drone strike on civilian bus in Sumy kills 9, injures 7. Russia launched a drone strike on Sumy Oblast in the early morning of May 17, killing nine people and injuring four more. The drone targeted a shuttle bus that was transporting civilians near the city of Bilopillia at 6:17 a.m. local time.

Russia kills 1, injures 8 people in Donetsk Oblast. The Russian military attacked Donetsk Oblast on May 17, killing one person and injuring an additional eight. The attack occurred in the morning and impacted the Yablunivka settlement, as well as Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Andriivka.

With Ukraine’s Peaky Blinders chasing Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk

International response

Canadian PM Carney reaffirms support for Ukraine in first meeting with Zelensky. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time on May 17 in Rome, where Carney reaffirmed his country’s “steadfast and unwavering support” for Ukraine.

EU prepares sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet, German FM says. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany and its allies are responding to hybrid threats in the Baltic region with increased patrols and renewed pressure on Russia’s covert shipping operations.

Rubio says Vatican could host peace talks, praises Holy See’s role in Ukraine war. Asked whether the Vatican could act as a peace broker, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he “wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going.”

Lavrov, Rubio discuss results of Istanbul peace talks, Russian media reports. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly welcomed what he described as a “constructive” role by Washington in encouraging Kyiv to accept President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume peace talks in Istanbul.

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In other news

Ukraine takes 9th place in Eurovision 2025. Ukrainian band Ziferblat took ninth place at the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. Their song “Bird of Pray” received 218 points – 60 from the jury and 158 from the audience.

Battalion commander of the 47th brigade submits resignation report, slams military leadership over ‘stupid tasks.’ “I have never received more stupid tasks than in the current direction,” Oleksandr Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post announcing his decision on May 16. “Someday I will tell you the details, but the stupid loss of people, trembling in front of a stupid generals, leads to nothing but failures.”

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Alright, let’s cut through the haze. India’s “new normal” in fighting terrorism. Sounds like a policy paper title, but it’s rawer than that. It’s India saying, “We’re done playing nice.” It’s surgical strikes, drone hits, and a middle finger to the old rules of engagement. But what does it mean? What’s the fallout when a billion-plus nation decides to rewrite the playbook on terror? Grab your coffee—this one’s messy, and I’m not here to sugarcoat it.

India’s been bleeding from terrorism for decades. Mumbai 2008. Pulwama 2019. The scars are real—166 dead in Mumbai, 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama. Pakistan’s ISI has been the puppeteer, pulling strings on groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. India’s response? Historically, it’s been restrained. Diplomatic protests. UN resolutions. A lot of “strong condemnations” that amounted to squat. But since 2016, things shifted. Uri attack happened. India hit back with a surgical strike across the Line of Control. Then Balakot in 2019, after Pulwama—IAF jets bombed a Jaish camp deep in Pakistan. No apologies. No hesitation. That’s the “new normal.” Preemptive. Aggressive. Unapologetic.

Why now? India’s fed up. The old way—waiting for global sympathy, begging the UN to sanction Pakistan—got them nothing. Pakistan’s economy is a dumpster fire, yet it still funds terror. A 2023 FATF report flagged $10 billion in illicit flows tied to Pakistan’s terror networks. India’s done asking for permission to hit back. It’s also about optics. Modi’s BJP thrives on strongman vibes. Voters love the image of a nation that punches first. But it’s not just politics. China’s looming on the LAC, flexing in Ladakh. India can’t afford to look weak on any front.

So, what’s the upside? First, deterrence. Pakistan’s generals aren’t dumb. They know India’s not bluffing anymore. Post-Balakot, cross-border attacks dropped 20%, per India’s Home Ministry. That’s not peace—it’s a pause. Second, it’s a signal to the world. India’s saying, “We’re not just a tech hub or a yoga retreat. We’re a power.” The Quad—U.S., Japan, Australia—takes India more seriously when it shows spine. Third, it’s psychological. For Indians, every strike is cathartic. After decades of feeling like sitting ducks, they’re cheering drones over POK.

But here’s the rub. It’s not all high-fives and Jai Hind. This “new normal” is a tightrope. One misstep, and it’s war. Pakistan’s got nukes. About 150, says SIPRI. India’s got 160. Both sides play the brinkmanship game, but one stray missile could end it all. Remember 2019? When India shot down its own chopper in the Balakot fog? Mistakes happen. And when they do, escalation isn’t a theory—it’s a body count.

Then there’s the blowback. India’s strikes don’t end terrorism; they just change its shape. Jaish and LeT aren’t going away—they’re adapting. A recent X post from a verified Indian security analyst, @StratAnalyst, noted a spike in encrypted chatter among terror cells in Kashmir since 2024. India’s hitting hard, but the enemy’s going guerrilla—smaller, sneakier attacks. Lone wolves. Cyber ops. India’s ready for tanks, not hackers.

And let’s talk morality. Yeah, I said it. India’s new playbook—drones, cross-border hits—skirts the edge of international law. The UN Charter frowns on violating sovereignty. India calls it “self-defense.” Fine. But what happens when China uses the same excuse to buzz Arunachal? Or when Pakistan cries victim and rallies the OIC? India’s setting a precedent it might regret. Hypocrisy stinks, and the world’s watching.

Geopolitics is a bitch, too. The U.S. cheers India’s anti-terror swagger but won’t ditch Pakistan. Why? Afghanistan. Central Asia. Pakistan’s a messy ally, but it’s got dirt roads to Kabul. A May 15, 2025, X post from @ForeignPolicyWonk flagged a $1.4 billion IMF loan to Pakistan, U.S.-backed, despite India’s protests. Washington’s playing both sides, and India’s “new normal” doesn’t change that. Meanwhile, China’s grinning. Every India-Pakistan flare-up distracts New Delhi from the LAC. Beijing’s building roads in Aksai Chin while India’s busy bombing POK.

Domestic costs? Oh, they’re real. This hardline stance fuels polarization. Muslims in India—200 million strong—feel the heat. BJP’s rhetoric doesn’t help, painting dissent as disloyalty. A 2024 Pew survey showed 60% of Indian Muslims feel “less safe” since 2019. That’s not just a stat—it’s a fracture. Alienating a fifth of your population while fighting external enemies is a dumb way to lose. And Kashmir? It’s a pressure cooker. Revoking Article 370 in 2019 was bold, but the lockdown, internet cuts, and heavy troops haven’t won hearts. India’s fighting terror, but it’s also fighting its own people.

So, where’s this going? Nowhere good. India’s “new normal” is a gamble. It’s strong. It’s satisfying. It works—until it doesn’t. The strikes hurt Pakistan, but they don’t kill the hydra. Terrorism mutates. Neighbors get twitchy. Bangladesh’s new PM, Eunice, already sniping about India’s “bullying” in a May 2025 Al Jazeera interview. Turkey’s selling drones to Pakistan, per a May 14 Defense News report. India’s not just fighting terror—it’s fighting a shifting alliance of frenemies.

What’s the fix? There isn’t one. India can’t go back to the old, toothless days. But it needs balance. Hit hard, sure, but talk soft. Open channels with Pakistan, even if it’s through backdoors. Invest in cyber defenses—terror’s gone digital. And for god’s sake, ease up on Kashmir. More troops won’t fix it. Jobs might. Schools might. Trust might.

India’s “new normal” is a flex. It’s also a trap. Strength feels good until it’s your cage. Keep swinging, India—just watch your back.