Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have exposed a significant corruption scheme involving a lawmaker, local officials, and National Guard members. The group allegedly used state funds to purchase drones and military equipment at inflated prices in exchange for bribes. Four individuals have been arrested so far.

The article highlights escalating tensions between the US and Russia, with President Trump deploying nuclear submarines in response to a war of words with Russian official Dmitry Medvedev. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia continue exchanging drone strikes, as Ukrainian President Zelensky insists only Putin can end the conflict and reiterates his call for negotiations.

A Ukrainian military strike near the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant—Europe's largest—killed a civilian woman and injured a man, according to local officials. The incident raises concerns about escalating risks in a region already on edge due to the plant's strategic and safety significance.

Editor’s Note: This story highlights the dangerous spillover of the war into civilian areas, especially around critical infrastructure like nuclear plants. With tensions already high, any attack near Zaporozhye risks triggering a broader crisis—humanitarian, environmental, or even geopolitical. It’s a grim reminder of how close this conflict is to crossing even more perilous red lines.

Ukrainian anticorruption agencies have arrested four suspects in a defense sector corruption scheme, following a controversial government attempt to reduce the agencies' independence. The arrests highlight ongoing struggles with graft, even as the country fights a war.