Author’s articles
As of May 2026, 1,783 cultural heritage sites and 2,540 cultural infrastructure facilities in Ukraine had been damaged as a result of Russian aggression. The destruction affected 341 local communities, excluding the temporarily occupied territories.
Slovakia has become one of the largest producers of ammunition among NATO countries and plans to increase its arms supplies to Ukraine. According to President Peter Pellegrini, Slovakian companies are already producing millions of artillery shells for Ukraine.
The European Union is considering extending the temporary protection regime for Ukrainians until 2028. Ilva Johansson, the EU Special Representative for Ukrainians, has stated that member states are discussing a common approach and may extend the protection for a further year beyond March 2027.
The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to Budapest following a massive drone attack by Russia on the Zakarpattia region. The Hungarian authorities stated that they strongly condemn Russia’s strikes on western regions of Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on allies to allocate 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraine. According to Politico, this formula could increase annual aid to Kyiv to $143 billion, but the proposal has already met with resistance from some NATO member states.
An increase in geomagnetic activity is expected on Earth. According to a forecast by the British Geological Survey, following the direct impact of a solar flare on 13–14 May, a high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to reach the planet, which could trigger a G1/G2-level magnetic storm.
On 14 May 2026, Orthodox Christians commemorate Saint Isidore the Martyr, an early Christian saint who lived in the 3rd century and died for his faith in Christ. For Western Christians, this day also marks the Ascension of the Lord.
In the first four months of 2026, international companies providing digital services to Ukrainian users paid over 6.9 billion hryvnia in ‘Google tax’ to the state budget. This is 1.5 billion hryvnia more than in the same period last year.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have exposed a former prosecutor at the Slobozhanskyi District Prosecutor’s Office in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for soliciting an illegal benefit of $80,000. According to the investigation, he allegedly demanded the money in exchange for a ‘lenient’ charge against a notary and a plea bargain resulting in a minimum sentence.
In Ukraine, people with a Group III disability will be entitled in 2026 to a disability pension, social assistance under certain conditions, and employment, medical, rehabilitation and transport support. The level of support depends on the cause of the disability, length of service, income, the individual’s status and the findings of an assessment of their daily functioning.
Forecasters are warning of a prolonged spell of extreme heat across parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In countries across Asia and the Middle East, temperatures could rise to between 40 and 48 degrees even in the shade, and the nights will not bring any significant relief from the heat.
Ukraine’s entry at Eurovision 2026, performed by LELEKA, is expected to cost around $300,000. The singer has stated that her team has already secured over 93% of the required budget, although just over 80% had been raised by the time she left Ukraine.
