Voice of America

More than 29 months since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian pilots start flying F-16 fighter jets. A Ukrainian high jumper wins Olympic gold. Among the returnees of last week’s historic prisoner swap with Russia, was a family of sleeper agents so deep under cover that their children found out they were Russians only after the flight took off. A summer of hope for a young Ukrainian refugee starting a new life in the U.S.

The U.S. announces a new aid package to support Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against increasingly brutal Russian attacks. Kremlin forces are carrying out their fiercest assaults on a key Ukrainian supply route. Kyiv said Monday its army had fought off 52 Russian assaults there in the last 24 hours. Officials in the U.S. and Europe have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks that Russia is beginning to carry out sabotage attacks on military and civilian infrastructure across the continent. A bittersweet opening for Ukrainian athletes competing in the Paris Olympics

President Biden's withdrawal from the race has raised concerns among the people in Ukraine about continued U.S. support in its fight against Russia. Anna Chernikova on how Ukrainians are reacting. Vice President Harris has signaled that she would not deviate from Biden's staunch support for NATO and would continue backing Ukraine. Two separate Russian courts on Friday send two American journalists to prison. From basement to battlefield. Ukrainian startups are developing a low-cost robot army to fight Russia.

Ukrainians react to the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Days after NATO allies called Beijing a Ukraine war enabler, China and Russi begin joint naval drills. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he aimed to have all the elements of a peace plan ready in November so Kyiv could convene a follow-up international summit. Ukrainians are less eager to fight than they were early in the war against Russian forces.

A horrific scene in Ukraine’s capitol Kyiv following a barrage of Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv's main Children’s hospital. Anna Chernikova on scene describes the destruction and says it will likely take days for rescue workers to search under the rubble. As NATO prepares to convene its three-day summit in Washington with expectations the alliance will reinforce its support for Ukraine. VOA attended a roundtable with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. We hear what he had to say following the Prime Minister of Hungary's visit to Moscow. Preparing for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, a Ukrainian high jumper talks about trying to stay focused on the raised bar, while her mind is fixed on the war.

Russian attacks on Ukrainians cities, including the capitol Kyiv continued through the weekend. Hungary's nationalist government, which has a history of blocking or delaying funds and arms for Ukraine took it’s turn Monday in the rotation as president of the European Union. Campaigners in Georgia are seeking to highlight past atrocities committed by invading Russian troops. Ten Ukrainian civilians return to Kyiv after being held for years in Russia. A celebrity chef in America is becoming a hero for Ukraine.

Russian missile attacks hit Ukraine's major cities, causing death, injury and infrastructure damage. The first EU portion of frozen Russian assets are expected to be delivered to Ukraine Monday. At least 20 people were killed, including civilians and police officers, when gunmen opened fire at two Orthodox churches, two synagogues, and a police station in separate attacks in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan. EU leaders approve more sanctions against Russia. A Ukrainian teenager seeking safety through in music in the U.S. city of Chicago.

After a weekend peace summit on Ukraine, Russia's war in grinds on with fresh air attacks that leave tens of thousands without power. Nearly eighty countries represented at the Summit on Peace in Switzerland agreed that territorial integrity and principles of international law should be the basis for any negotiation. Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea this week amid international concerns over the two country’s military cooperation. Despite Russia’s invasion, Ukraine remains a popular destination for overseas parents seeking surrogate mothers.

Vice President Kamala Harris will take part in next weekend’s Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland along with nearly 90 countries and organizations plan to attend. Ukraine says it struck one of Russia's most advanced warplanes over the weekend. Ukrainian military officials say weekend missile and drone attacks continued over the weekend amid concerns Moscow is looking to expand its buffer zone. And one year after the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine collapsed, the devastating impacts continue.

Ukraine imposed emergency power shutdowns in most of the country on Sunday, after Russia unleashed large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure and claimed it made gains in the eastern Donetsk province. The Netherlands will allow its soon to be delivered F-16 fighter jets to hit Russian targets. President Zelenskyy accuses China of pressuring countries not to attend upcoming peace talks on Ukraine. Right wing, populist parties are expected to surge in three-day EU parliamentary elections starting June 6th which analysts say could impact support for Ukraine’s war against Russia. And the story of a professional Ukrainian tennis player is voluntarily fighting for his country.