Russia attacked Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40 people

A Russian drone attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv injured at least 40 people on May 2, with at least seven hospitalized, local authorities reported.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has faced ongoing aerial assaults throughout the full-scale war.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced via Telegram that the drones struck 12 locations across four city districts: Kyivskyi, Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, and Saltivskyi.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said several homes, shops, and vehicles were damaged, with fires breaking out at some of the impacted sites. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to respond to the attacks.

U.S. confirmed sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts support

The U.S. Air Force has transferred decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to support the maintenance of aircraft donated by European allies, The War Zone reported on May 1.

An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that the U.S. had provided non-operational and fully disused F-16s to Ukraine specifically for spare parts. These retired jets, no longer flyable, lack essential components such as engines and radar systems, rendering them unfit for combat missions.

According to reports, the stripped-down airframes were loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane on April 26, departing from Tucson International Airport in Arizona and arriving at Poland’s Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport — a key hub for Western military aid to Ukraine.

Several European countries have pledged to deliver operational F-16s to Ukraine as part of ongoing support for the country’s air defense.

Ukrainian ballistic missile development should be accelerated - Zelensky

On May 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he had convened a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to discuss key military issues, including the development of Ukrainian ballistic missiles.

In his evening video address, Zelenskyy said Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi delivered multiple briefings during the session, focusing in particular on the situation in Donetsk Oblast, especially the Pokrovsk front, as well as operations in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions.

Zelenskyy reiterated that the war must be felt in the regions from which it originated.

The meeting also reviewed Ukraine’s missile program. Zelenskyy stated that accelerating the development of domestic ballistic missile systems is a priority, describing long-range capabilities as a “clear and effective guarantee” of national security.

In addition, discussions were held regarding Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, including aircraft already received, those expected soon, and strategies for effective pilot training and operational deployment.