On the Toretsk direction, drone pilots from the "Spalakh" UAV battalion spotted and destroyed two Russian tanks hidden in abandoned structures.

After meeting with Pope Leo XIV, President Zelensky thanked the Vatican for its willingness to serve as a platform for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia.

“We’re open to dialogue in any format—as long as it delivers real results. We value the Vatican’s support and clear stance for a just peace,” Zelensky said.

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Zelensky: Had a productive meeting with VP Vance and Sec. Rubio in Rome. We discussed the Istanbul talks, where Russia showed up with a delegation lacking authority.

I reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for real diplomacy and stressed the need for a full, unconditional ceasefire.

🔥 Precise Ukrainian airstrike hits a concentration of Russian troops in temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region.

On the Kursk front, Ukraine’s “Prime” border guard unit delivered strikes using drones—destroying 18 Russian shelters, 3 trucks, a Giatsint-B artillery piece, 2 UAV control points, 2 telecom towers, an ammo depot, and eliminating 10 Russian soldiers.

With around 73% of polling stations counted, pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan holds a 4-point lead over far-right rival George Simion in Romania’s presidential race.

Despite exit polls that predict a victory for pro-Western Nicușor Dan, his opponent, far-right Euro-sceptic George Simion, has already declared himself the winner of the race and named his expected result.

"We are the clear winners of these elections. We demand victory on behalf of the Romanian people," he said.

With over 85% of polling stations counted, Nicușor Dan has widened his lead to 6.4% over George Simion in Romania’s presidential election.

With nearly 95% of polling stations counted, Nicușor Dan holds a strong lead—close to 9%—over George Simion. Surprisingly, Simion isn’t dominating the diaspora vote as expected, while Dan is performing much better than predicted with already 35% in.

🇺🇸 Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed. The cancer is hormone-sensitive, and treatment options are now being discussed with his doctors.

The 18/05/25 SitRep on Ukraine is ready: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1924199868689469719.html

For over three years, we've been reporting on the war in Ukraine—day in, day out. It takes dedication, time, and the right resources to bring you all these accurate updates.

Your support helps us do more. Every contribution allows us to invest in collaborations with organizations and better tools to improve our coverage. A monthly membership gives us stability, but a one-time donation also makes a huge difference.

💙 Become a monthly supporter: https://patreon.com/NOELREPORTS
⚡️ Make a one-time donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/noelreports

Independent reporting matters—thank you for being part of it.

— NOEL & Team

Celebrations are slowly starting in Bucharest as Nicușor Dan pulls ahead — but voting still isn’t over as counting is still ongoing.

Russian local channels are reporting Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea.

🇺🇦🇷🇴 Zelensky congratulated Nicușor Dan on his historic win in Romania’s presidential election, calling Romania a trusted partner and friend. He emphasizes unity, strength, and the importance of deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Good night, sleep well. See you tomorrow.