Police have reported a sweeping crackdown on former officials accused of profiting from mobilization

A former Ukrainian military official who led a regional conscription office in Odessa is suspected of illegally accumulating around $1 million in wealth while in office.

Corruption, long seen as a systemic issue in Ukraine, has intensified public frustration surrounding the country’s obligatory mobilization campaign, with widespread claims of some officials taking bribes from men seeking to evade military service.

The unnamed suspect’s case was highlighted by the national police on Monday as part of a wider investigation into alleged abuses within the conscription system. The authorities said several serving and former senior draft officials are under scrutiny, with assets believed to be of dubious origin being confiscated.

According to police, property worth more than $2 million that had not been properly declared was targeted. Seized items reportedly include Tesla vehicles, large sums of cash, gold coins, and other valuables. In total, 44 searches were carried out nationwide.

Ukraine depends on compulsory military service to replenish its frontline forces in the conflict with Russia, with numerous videos circulating online showing recruitment officers forcibly detaining men of fighting age. The Defense Ministry is reportedly considering reforms as incidents of resistance, including violent confrontations with officials, become more frequent. Critics argue the military may be attempting to shift public anger onto civilian authorities by assigning enforcement responsibilities to the police.

The controversial mobilization system has been linked to organized crime. In a recent high-profile case in Odessa, the authorities said they busted a group of draft officials allegedly operating as a kidnapping ring. The suspects were accused of using insider police information to identify affluent targets, abduct them, and demand ransom for their release, threatening to send them to the front line otherwise.

The Russian Armed Forces carried out a retaliatory strike over the past 24 hours against Ukrainian defense industry and energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

Kiev’s drone incursions targeted 19 regions, the ministry has reported

A total of 289 Ukrainian drones have been shot down by air defenses over Russian territory overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported Tuesday morning.

Incoming drones were intercepted and destroyed across 19 regions in western and southern parts of the country, as well as over the Azov Sea.

Regional officials provided further details on the scale and impact of the overnight attacks.

In Bryansk Region, which borders Ukraine, air defenses intercepted a total of 98 unmanned aerial vehicles, Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz reported. As a result of a kamikaze drone strike on the village of Demyanki in the Starodub municipal district, a man and a woman were injured. Three people were also injured in the settlement of Verbovka in the same municipal district as a result of kamikaze drone attacks.

In Leningrad Region, 29 Ukrainian drones were downed, according to Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko. A fire that broke out in an industrial area in Kirishi has since been contained, with firefighting efforts nearing completion. No casualties were reported.

Voronezh Region saw 17 drones detected and destroyed, Governor Aleksandr Gusev said. There were no injuries, though falling debris severed power lines in one district, temporarily leaving around 160 residents without electricity. The damage has since been repaired and power restored.

In Kaluga Region, air defenses neutralized ten drones, Governor Vladislav Shapsha reported, adding that there were no casualties or infrastructure damage. A further 10 UAVs were shot down over Rostov Region, the authorities confirmed. Elsewhere, four drones were intercepted over each of Tver and Novgorod Regions, while two UAVs were downed over both Tula and Ryazan Regions, according to officials.

Read more

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that six Ukrainian drones were intercepted on approach to the capital overnight.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has reported that fatalities occurred as a result of the attack on the city of Cheboksary, located about 600 km east of Moscow, and its surrounding areas.

In neighboring Belgorod Region, a drone strike targeted a truck on the Shebekino–Belgorod highway, leaving the driver injured. Another man was wounded after a UAV hit an enterprise site in the village of Belyanka in the Shebekinsky district, while a civilian sustained injuries in the city of Grayvoron following a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone.

Ukrainian drone raids on Russia have intensified in recent months, with Kiev deploying hundreds of fixed-wing UAVs on a daily basis, targeting critical infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and residential areas.

Russian officials have described the incursions as desperate “terrorist attacks” meant to compensate for the setbacks Kiev’s military has been suffering on the battlefield.

Moscow has retaliated with a long-range strike campaign of its own, targeting dual-use infrastructure, including power grid facilities and military sites in Ukraine with missiles and drones. Russia maintains that it never targets purely civilian sites.

Army spokesperson Asim Awad Abdelwahab has claimed UAVs targeted key sites across the capital

Sudan has accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of being behind a recent drone attack on Khartoum International Airport, according to statements by armed forces spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab on Tuesday.

The Sudanese authorities reported that multiple airstrikes on Monday hit key sites across the capital, including the main airport, nearby residential neighborhoods, and several strategic military positions such as the al-Markhiyat training facility in Omdurman and the Signal Corps base in Khartoum North, before being driven back by air defense systems. 

Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Data from the UN indicates that nearly 12 million people have been displaced by the conflict.

“We formally announce the involvement of the UAE and Ethiopia in the bombing of Khartoum airport,” officials said, as quoted by the Sudan Tribune, adding that Sudan could respond whenever and wherever it deems appropriate.

Read more

Speaking at a joint briefing, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem and military spokesperson Abdelwahab said they possess what they described as “conclusive evidence” that the drones originated from Bahir Dar airport in Ethiopia, while also presenting technical data claiming that a UAV marked S88 and allegedly linked to the UAE was tracked crossing into Sudanese airspace from Ethiopian territory. 

They alleged that the same type of drone had previously launched repeated strikes against Sudanese forces in Al-Kormuk and other territories of Blue Nile State, in addition to operations across North and South Kordofan, before it was ultimately shot down north of El Obeid on March 17. However, Ethiopian officials rejected the accusations at the time.

In response to the developments, Salem had ordered the recall of the country’s ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations.

READ MORE: War-torn Sudan rejects talks with rebels

On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the accusations as “baseless,” asserting that Addis Ababa remains committed to its longstanding ties with Sudan and reiterating calls for dialogue, a humanitarian truce, and a broader political process to resolve the crisis. 

Press Statement: 05 May 2026 pic.twitter.com/71UAxUftDr

— The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 (@MFAEthiopia) May 5, 2026

The UAE has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.

The White House is reportedly weighing oversight of new artificial intelligence models before release, in a reversal of its hands-off stance

The White House is weighing the possibility of reviewing new artificial intelligence models before official release, marking a potential shift from its current hands-off approach, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing sources.

According to the outlet, the administration of US President Donald Trump is mulling the creation of an AI working group that brings together officials and tech executives to explore oversight options, including a possible formal review process.

Sources say the push aims to avoid political fallout from a potential AI-enabled cyberattack, while also giving officials early access to new models to assess whether they could offer cyber capabilities useful to the Pentagon.

The system could give the government early access to advanced models, though not necessarily the power to block them. Officials reportedly discussed the plans last week with representatives from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI.

Read more

The approach could mirror the UK’s AI Security Institute, which evaluates advanced models for risks and advises the government on guardrails. In the US, major labs already voluntarily test models with the federal Center for AI Standards and Innovation, but it takes a more pro-business approach, framing safety as a tool to build trust.

It remains unclear how the reviews would work or which agencies would run them. Any mechanism would likely be introduced via executive order, though no timeline has been set.

Requiring formal reviews would mark a reversal in Trump’s AI policy. Since returning to office, he has championed minimal regulation, calling AI “a beautiful newborn baby” that is key to competing with China and warning against “politics or stupid rules” that could hinder its growth.

Read more

The New York Times claims the shift gained urgency after Anthropic unveiled a powerful new model, Claude Mythos, which it chose not to release publicly, warning it could expose critical software vulnerabilities.

The debate also follows a row between Anthropic and the Pentagon, after the firm refused to loosen safeguards on surveillance and autonomous weapons. The Department of War labeled it a “supply-chain risk,” sidelining it from contracts – a move Anthropic is now challenging in court.

The Pentagon has been rapidly expanding AI use in its operations, recently securing deals with Google and OpenAI for classified models.

Concerns over AI risks have been mounting in the US for some time. A Pew Research Center poll last year found 50% of Americans were more concerned than excited about AI, up from 37% in 2021. A March Gallup poll showed Gen Z sentiment turning more negative, with optimism falling and anger rising.

READ MORE: The Pentagon vs Anthropic: Why a tech giant is defying the US military on use of AI

Public skepticism over the Pentafon’s AI push also remains high. A February ITIF survey found 79% of Americans believe a human should make final decisions on lethal force, while 75% said AI is not reliable enough for life-or-death use. The same poll showed broad support for limits by tech firms, with 67% saying companies should restrict how their products are used, even by the government.

The Digital Ministry confirmed restrictions were introduced in the Russian capital on Tuesday morning, stating that they were a temporary measure.

The grisly discovery followed a search for a missing businessman whose car was left near a river, according to police  

Human remains have been found inside a crocodile in South Africa’s Komati River during a search for a missing businessman, local police have said.

The discovery followed a days-long search operation near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga province, police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said on Sunday, describing the case as a suspected fatal crocodile attack. DNA tests will be conducted to confirm whether the remains belong to the missing man.

Authorities said the possible victim, a businessman from Gauteng, had been reported missing after his vehicle was found partially submerged on a low-lying bridge along the Komati River, an area known for strong currents and wildlife. Search teams intensified efforts amid difficult conditions following heavy rains that had caused flooding in the region.

The operation involved police divers, emergency responders and local authorities, who combed the river and surrounding areas.

Captain Pottie Potgieter of the Ehlanzeni Diving Unit said the team had monitored reptiles for several days before identifying a crocodile believed to be linked to the disappearance.

Another Arial view. pic.twitter.com/YE97p1GbZt

— The King of Trolls (@StHonorable) May 3, 2026

“They spotted the crocodiles at the same place now for the past four days,” Potgieter said. “With our experience and with the training we’ve had, we identified a crocodile there that we basically were 100% sure that had eaten the man that we are looking for.”

The crocodile, weighing about 500 kg, was airlifted from the river by police and flown to Kruger National Park, where a field necropsy confirmed it contained human remains.

GRAPHIC WARNING | Mpumalanga police say a crocodile they put down had human remains, believed to be those of a 59-year-old Gauteng businessman who went missing in the Komati River. Police add there is evidence to suggest more people may have fallen victim to the reptile. pic.twitter.com/kQpk6yoQW1

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 2, 2026

Investigators with forensic teams are now working to establish the identity through DNA analysis. Police said the results would be critical in confirming whether the remains are those of the missing businessman. Authorities have not released the name of the victim, and no official identification has yet been made.

The incident is the second reported on the Komati River in nearly six months. In December, two soldiers were swept away while attempting to cross the same bridge. The body of one soldier was recovered shortly after, while partial remains believed to be those of the second were found six days later.

The Komati River, which runs along the border with Mozambique, is home to a significant population of crocodiles and has previously posed risks to residents and travelers, particularly during periods of high water levels and flooding.

Kiev is recruiting heavily in the Latin American country to offset troop shortages

Colombian citizens who travel to Ukraine to fight as mercenaries are “dying for nothing,” President Gustavo Petro has said.

The Colombian leader took aim at Kiev’s use of foreign fighters in a post on X on Tuesday. He was reacting to a Ukrainian media report praising what it described as 7,000 Colombians involved in the conflict with Russia.

“There are 7,000 Colombian men, trained for combat, fighting in a foreign war and dying for nothing in Ukraine,” Petro wrote, adding that Colombia does not intend to “export death.”

Kiev has been actively seeking foreign recruits – described by Ukrainian officials as ‘volunteers’ – since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022. Colombia, given its long history of internal armed conflict and counterinsurgency operations, has become a significant source of foreign fighters.

Read more

The figure of 7,000 was previously cited in media reports as the total number of Colombians who fought for Ukraine from 2022 to late 2025, though it remains unverified. Recent estimates suggest that 1,000 to 2,000 Colombians are currently involved in the fighting.

Colombians treated as ‘second-class’ in Ukraine

Petro stressed that mercenary activity is illegal under Colombian law. In late March, the country ratified the UN Mercenary Convention amid a surge in recruitment that has reportedly drawn around 10,000 Colombians into foreign conflicts worldwide.

Public attention in Colombia was drawn in October 2025 to the case of around 40 nationals stranded in Ukraine. According to Semana magazine, they attempted to exit military service and leave the country, but were allegedly abducted while traveling toward Poland.

At the time, Petro shared a video said to show the Colombians in Ukrainian custody and accused Kiev of treating them as “second-class” individuals.

Los ucranianos tratan a los Colombianos como raza inferior. pido a los Colombianos mercenarios,, que los están manejando como carne de cañón, llevados por empresas guiadas. desde Miami, que regresen de inmediato al país pic.twitter.com/gGlDnGMMy9

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 8, 2025

“I call on Colombian mercenaries who are being used as cannon fodder by companies operating out of Miami to return home immediately,” the president said.

Read more

Ukraine facing troop shortages

The Russian military has said it targets positions held by foreign fighters supporting Kiev, though it rarely provides detailed accounts. In 2024, the Defense Ministry published a breakdown of foreign fighters by nationality, placing Colombia behind Poland, Georgia, the US, and Canada.

Since then, Ukraine’s manpower challenges have worsened, leading the authorities to adopt increasingly harsh mobilization practices to compel reluctant men of fighting age into the army. The government has acknowledged that the often violent actions of press gangs are a major source of tensions in Ukrainian society.

The system of ‘international legions’ within the Ukrainian military was reportedly dissolved last year, sparking discontent among foreign fighters who were subsequently ordered to integrate into regular military units.

The move comes days after General Assimi Goita vowed to neutralize those responsible for the April 25 assaults

Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goita, has taken over the duties of defense minister after Sadio Camara, who had held the post, was killed in a wave of coordinated attacks by militants, the authorities have said.

A presidential order published in the West African nation’s Official Gazette on Monday said Goita will remain head of state while assuming the defense portfolio.

“The president of the transition, head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, shall perform the duties of Minister of Defense and Veterans,” it stated.

A separate decree named General Oumar Diarra as minister delegate for defense, placing him under the ministry now led by Goita.

Former Defense Minister Camara died after a suicide car bomb struck his residence in Kati, a garrison town near Bamako, on April 25. The offensive targeted Bamako, Kati, Gao, Sevare, and Kidal, and was claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front.

READ MORE: Malian forces regain control of strategic city

Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga said the militants sought to seize power, destabilize state institutions, and derail the country’s political transition.

The government stated that the army, backed by Russia’s Africa Corps, repelled attempts to seize military sites and key infrastructure. The Russian Defense Ministry said the assault amounted to an attempted coup and claimed that the attackers received training involving Ukrainian and European mercenary instructors. More than 200 militants were killed and large quantities of equipment seized, according to Mali’s army.

Read more

In a televised address last week, Goita vowed to neutralize those responsible for the recent assaults.

Mali has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2012, a conflict that has spread into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. The three military-led states formed the Alliance of Sahel States after cutting defense ties with France, expelling French troops, and accusing Paris of sponsoring terrorism in the region. The Sahel states have since turned to Russia for support in combating terrorism.

A judge sentenced Valery Zvegintsev and Vladislav Galkin to 12.5 years in prison each after finding them guilty of treason.

Tehran remains about a year from building a nuclear bomb if it wishes to do so, with its enriched uranium stockpile still out of reach, the news agency says

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have failed to push back the timeline for Tehran potentially acquiring a nuclear weapon, Reuters reported on Monday, citing intelligence sources. Tehran could still reportedly produce a bomb in roughly a year – the same estimate as after last June’s attacks on its key nuclear facilities.

While US officials have insisted that their key objective in the war has been to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the timeline for a nuclear breakout remains “broadly unchanged,” the report says. It added that derailing Tehran’s nuclear effort would require destroying or removing Iran’s remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

“Iran still possesses all of its nuclear material, as far as we know,” Eric Brewer, a former senior US intelligence analyst, told Reuters. “That material is probably located in deeply buried underground sites where US munitions can’t penetrate.”

Read more

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to verify the whereabouts of some 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60% – enough, if further enriched, for ten bombs. About half is believed to be in an underground tunnel complex at the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center, according to Reuters.

Last June, powerful US strikes hit nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, with US intelligence estimating that the nuclear breakout timeline was put back to about nine months to a year, Reuters sources said. Around the same time, a New York Times report said, citing a classified assessment, that US strikes had set Iran’s program back by only “a few months.” 

US President Donald Trump at the time dismissed the allegation as “fake news,” saying that “monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran.”

Iran has consistently denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and rejected demands to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile. Last year, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated that “we do not have any indication that there is a systemic program in Iran to manufacture a nuclear weapon.”

Despite this, US and Israeli officials have for years sounded the alarm about Iran’s nuclear aspirations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been issuing warnings since at least 1992, and at the 2012 UN General Assembly, he famously brandished a cartoon bomb diagram with a red line drawn near the 90% enrichment threshold.

A major Chinese enterprise operating in the Gwadar Port Free Zone, has cancelled its earlier plan to exit Pakistan after receiving support from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to resolve permit issues.