Demographic crisis in Ukraine deepens

Ukraine is facing a deepening demographic crisis, as newly released data from 2024 shows a

This downward trend has been ongoing for decades. Ukraine’s peak birth years occurred in the early 1990s, with 657,200 births in 1990 and 630,800 in 1991. Since then, the number of births has steadily decreased. By 2001, the birth rate had halved to 376,500. A brief period of recovery followed between 2002 and 2009, with a modest increase culminating in 512,500 births in 2009.

However, since 2010, the trend has reversed again, with a consistent and sharp decline. Births dropped to 299,100 in 2020, followed by 273,800 in 2021. The impact of Russia's full-scale invasion further worsened the situation, with only 206,000 children born in 2022, 187,400 in 2023, and 176,100 in 2024. These figures underscore the immense demographic pressure facing Ukraine as it struggles with the ongoing consequences of war, economic instability, and a shrinking, aging population.

Russian missile strike hit an industrial facility in Sumy, killing two and injuring nine civilians

On the afternoon of May 14, a powerful explosion rocked the city of Sumy following a Russian missile strike targeting an industrial infrastructure facility. Local authorities have confirmed that the attack resulted in the deaths of two people and injured nine others, two of whom are in serious condition.

According to the Sumy City Council and regional officials, emergency and specialized response teams are currently working at the site of the attack. Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar and regional military administrators confirmed that the strike specifically targeted industrial infrastructure, though further details about the type of facility or the extent of the damage have not yet been disclosed.

This latest attack highlights the continued vulnerability of Ukraine’s civilian and industrial infrastructure amid Russia’s ongoing missile campaign. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration reiterated that Russia deliberately struck the facility with a missile, contributing to the rising civilian toll and further damaging the region's economic base.

Ukraine's gas storage reserves decreased to their lowest level in 11 years

As of May 11, Ukraine's underground gas reserves stood at 6.02 billion cubic meters (bcm), the lowest recorded level in at least 11 years, according to the ExPro Daily Gas consulting group. This drop reflects the severe strain on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure caused by repeated Russian attacks, which have triggered widespread power outages, heat shortages, and challenges in gas storage and production.

Ukraine’s storage facilities are currently operating at just 19.4% of their total capacity. The available gas reserves are down by 2.79 bcm—almost 32%—compared to the same time last year. Despite this, gas injection volumes have improved year-over-year. Since the beginning of May 2025, over 350 million cubic meters (mcm) have been pumped into storage—33% more than in early May 2024. Cumulative injections since April 17 have reached 610 mcm, with daily imports stabilizing around 14 mcm. If this pace continues, reserves could reach 6.6 bcm by the end of May.

Ukraine is also working to recover gas production, which was heavily damaged during Russian strikes in February and March. Russia targeted 34 facilities belonging to Ukrgasvydobuvannya, Ukraine’s largest gas producer under the state-run Naftogaz Group, resulting in a temporary 50% drop in output. However, by March, more than half of the lost production had been restored. Naftogaz has also imported 800 mcm of gas and begun repairing critical infrastructure in preparation for the 2024–2025 winter season.

Trump needs to understand that Putin lies and blocks peace efforts - Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that U.S. President Donald Trump needed to understand that Russian President Vladimir Putin was actively obstructing peace efforts. Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Zelensky stated that Trump had to believe Putin was lying. He added that Ukraine should act sensibly and demonstrate that it was not the party slowing down the peace process.

These remarks came ahead of Zelensky’s planned trip to Turkey, where he had invited Putin for what could be the first direct peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022. Russia had confirmed it would send a delegation but had not clarified whether Putin himself would attend.

Zelensky said that if Putin failed to show up and continued to delay, it would make it clear that he did not want to end the war.

Ukraine and its allies had proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on May 12 as a foundation for peace talks, but Russia had ignored the offer.

Trump had expressed optimism about the potential meeting and had suggested he might attend. However, the White House was reportedly growing frustrated with stalled peace efforts, particularly as the administration’s 100-day deadline to reach a deal had already passed.

Following a meeting with Zelensky in the Vatican on April 26, Trump had acknowledged that Putin might not be genuinely interested in peace and had suggested that further sanctions on Russia could be considered.