Today's Contents
Just The Facts:
- More than 600,000 craters - some 50 meters across - displaced 2.2 million cubic meters of farm soil in Kherson and Mykolaiv
- Russia cancels Victory Day parade in Crimea after Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow
- Ukraine, Czechia explore stronger economic, defense cooperation during Zelensky's Prague visit
- Ukraine's Economy Ministry signs memorandum of cooperation with Ukrainian-Korean Business Council
Here's What They Think:
- Kyiv Post: Ukraine peace-building and reconstruction efforts should include women
- Newsweek: Ukraine's battlefield innovation offers a strategic edge
Sober Second Thought:
- Ukrainians place highest trust in Defence Intelligence of Ukraine among security agencies, InfoLight.UA study shows
Rebuilder's Social
- Developing a minerals value chain in Ukraine, integrating Ukrainian agriculture into the EU, and upskilling or reskilling Ukrainians.
More than 600,000 craters - some 50 meters across - displaced 2.2 million cubic meters of farm soil in Kherson and Mykolaiv
Researchers assessing damage to Ukraine's agricultural sector have documented more than 600,000 craters from explosives, including some as wide as 50 meters across, as well as intense soil compaction and disruption of the topsoil, in Ukraine's Mykolaiv and Kherson regions alone, according to the government.
The findings, to be formally presented in June along with a monetary assessment of the damage to Ukrainian agricultural land, were part of an ongoing study commissioned by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.
The surveys covered 980,000 hectares of the most heavily damaged farmland in the southern region of Mykolaiv, excluding land 40 kms from the frontline buffer zone, the Ukrainian government said in a press release.
In Mykolaiv, the researchers found more than 306,000 craters measuring from 0.5 meters to 50 meters across, displacing a combine 612,000 cubic meters of soil. More than 2,334 hectares were affected by "bombturbation," or the disruption of the topsoil from explosions, and more than 6,000 hectares were compacted by heavy military equipment.
In the Kherson region, researchers surveyed 311,700 craters ranging from 0.5 to 22.4 metres in diameter, which displaced 1.6 million cubic meters of soil. Over 3,400 hectares of land were affected by bombturbation, and 7,300 hectares were compacted. Nearly 27,000 hectares of soil may be contaminated due to explosions.
According to a study by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) released last month, restoring Ukraine's war-damaged agricultural soils will cost at least $20 billion, equivalent to about 15% of the country's pre-war GDP.
Besides bomb damage, the destruction of farmland includes the disruption of farming infrastructure, making it difficult for farmers to manage their lands or even access them in some areas. While some regions may eventually be restored to agriculture, others could become permanently unfit for farming due to unexploded munitions and severe contamination.
Russia cancels Victory Day parade in Crimea after Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow
Russia has canceled World War II anniversary events in occupied Crimea, including its planned Victory Day military parade in Sevastopol, over security concerns following Ukrainian drone attacks, according to media reports.
A total of 26 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory were destroyed overnight, with no reported injuries, Reuters reported, citing Russia's Defense Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The attack reportedly also temporarily disrupted air travel at Domodedovo airport.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said he could not guarantee the safety of delegates attending the march through Moscow on Friday, according to The Telegraph.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico dismissed Zelensky's warning to foreign leaders about attending the Victory Day parade, calling it an intimidation attempt. "I reject such threats for security reasons," he said.
The presidents of China and Belarus are set to attend the Moscow parade. Aleksandar Vučić, the Serbian president, had said he would attend but suddenly fell ill, according to The Telegraph.
Russia has tightened security ahead of the Victory Day parade following Zelensky's remarks, including mobile internet restrictions and special forces drills simulating a drone attack in Moscow's Red Square.
Ukraine, Czechia explore stronger economic, defense cooperation during Zelensky's Prague visit
Ukraine and Czechia have explored the expansion of defense cooperation, the development of bilateral economic cooperation, and joint humanitarian projects during Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky's visit in Prague.
Zelensky met with Czech President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala as well as other political and business leaders, according to press releases from the Ukrainian presidential office.
"I am confident that we will continue to create jobs and ensure economic growth for both our countries through defense cooperation. And this is a significant contribution by the Czech Republic to the security of all of Europe – we have at least five years' worth of joint initiatives to implement," Zelensky said during his visit.
"Many different projects, many areas of development. Czech companies are aware of all the relevant opportunities," he added.
The presidents also discussed the creation of a Ukrainian-Czech F-16 training school for pilots and deliveries of atillery ammunition to Ukraine, which could reach 1.8 million shells this year.
The two countries also signed a memorandum to expand cooperation on mental health services and research, in particular war-related trauma, according to a post on X from Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and a press release from the Ukrainian presidential office.
Ukraine's Economy Ministry signs memorandum of cooperation with Ukrainian-Korean Business Council
Ukraine's Ministry of Economy and the Ukrainian-Korean Business Council (UKBC) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to deepen institutional collaboration and boosting private sector engagement between the two countries.
The memorandum outlines plans to enhance bilateral economic development by promoting investment, supporting market access for businesses, and fostering innovation, the Ukrainian economy ministry said in a press release. Key sectors of focus include infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and green energy.
"This is an important step in coordinating our cooperation with the Republic of Korea on a one-stop shop basis," said Oleksiy Soboliev, Ukraine's deputy economy minister. "We want to form long-term institutional cooperation through UCBC, develop it as much as possible, and integrate the Korean private sector into strategic government initiatives."
The agreement builds on a $2.1 billion five-year framework deal signed last year with Korea's Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF), intended to finance recovery projects in Ukraine, according to the release.
Under the memorandum, both sides agreed to compile a full list of potential projects for joint implementation, including those involving EDCF financing and private investment. They will also monitor the progress of each initiative and develop a dashboard highlighting the most promising ventures, alongside a roadmap for advancing key areas of cooperation.
Kyiv Post: Ukraine peace-building and reconstruction efforts should include women
Women's inclusion in peace-building processes significantly increases the chances of lasting peace, with research showing that agreements involving women are 35% more likely to endure at least 15 years, Inna Liniova, the director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association, wrote in an opinion piece for Kyiv Post.
These examples—from Colombia to Yemen and Bosnia and Herzegovina—offer valuable lessons for Ukraine as it embarks on its own post-war recovery. To ensure sustainable peace and effective justice, Ukraine must integrate women's voices and leadership from the beginning. Drawing from global best practices, Ukraine has the chance to build a truly inclusive and transformative transitional justice system.
Newsweek: Ukraine's battlefield innovation offers a strategic edge
Despite waning US support and intensifying Russian aggression, Ukraine's battlefield has become a dynamic testing ground for defense innovation, driven by urgency and necessity, Ilan Berman, senior vice president at American Foreign Policy Council, wrote in an opinion piece for Newsweek.
This innovation ecosystem—backed by state funding and start-ups—is not only enhancing Ukraine's capabilities but also offers valuable lessons for Western allies. The piece urges Washington to recognize and support these advancements as part of a broader shift toward more efficient, tech-driven collective security.
Ukrainians place highest trust in Defence Intelligence of Ukraine among security agencies, InfoLight.UA study shows
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has earned a top spot in Ukrainians' trust ratings, according to a recent study by InfoLight.UA. While the Armed Forces, volunteers, and territorial defense units also receive the highest levels of overall public trust, the DIU stands out as the most trusted specific agency within the country's security and defense agencies.
The study, conducted in the fourth year of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, aimed to assess Ukrainians' trust in institutions, psychological resilience, and social cohesion amid the ongoing conflict.
The DIU's elevated status among Ukrainians is a result of its transformation since the 2014 Russian invasion, according to InfoLight.UA. Once a relatively small agency with fewer than 5,000 personnel, it has grown into an intelligence service with operational reach extending deep into Russian territory, including high-profile sabotage missions and targeted strikes.
In early May, the DIU made global headlines by using a Magura maritime drone to destroy a Russian Su-30 fighter jet attempting to attack a Ukrainian unmanned vessel near Novorossiysk. This marked the first time in history that a combat aircraft had been neutralized by a maritime drone strike. Last December, the agency had successfully targeted and destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters using the Magura V5 drone system.
The agency's growing reputation as a powerful and precise intelligence and sabotage force has contributed significantly to national morale, reinforcing the perception that justice for Russian war crimes is already being delivered, not just awaited in international courts, according to InfoLight.UA.
Data used in the study was collected through a survey of over 80 questions, divided into seven thematic blocks, including psychological resilience, social cohesion, economic confidence, and defense policies. The survey was conducted in two waves: the first from April 4-6, 2025, with 1,024 responses, and the second from April 17-26, 2025, with 450 responses.
Social Media Posts
Developing a Minerals Value Chain in Ukraine
Ukrainian think tank Dixi Group warned that "Ukraine should not become a raw material base for the extraction of critical minerals for others; it is important to develop a full production cycle within."
After the signing of the minerals deal with the US last week, DiXi Group called attention to the discussion of "how not to become a raw material base for other countries that will extract our resources and export them for processing and manufacturing."
Integrating Ukrainian Agriculture into EU
The Ukraine Facility Platform called for integration of Ukraine's agricultural sector into the European Union by developing "a joint roadmap with European partners to align Ukraine with the core principles of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy."
The platform, supported by the EU Mission to Ukraine, also called for the channelling of "both EU and Ukrainian investments into joint ventures in Ukraine, the bioeconomy, and sustainable processing."
270,000 Ukrainians Upskilled or Reskilled
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine posted that 270,000 Ukrainians have already completed reskilling and upskilling programs supported by the Skills Alliance for Ukraine.
As of March, the participants included 130,000 women, along with growing particpation from veterans, internally displaced people and handicapped people. The leaders of the program at Unicef and Google.
Ukrainian Soldiers March in London
Dmytro Pulmanovsky, chief of staff at the National Guard of Ukraine, celebrated the participation, for the first time ever, of Ukrainian soldiers in the official Victory in Europe parade in London.
"This is more than a gesture of solidarity. It is a recognition of Ukraine as a nation standing on the frontline of defending European freedom and global security.
A partner — not in words, but in shared struggle and strategic alignment."
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