Defense Ministry

China's military court sentenced former Defense Minister Li Shangfu to death—effectively life imprisonment with no possibility of reduction or parole—on charges of accepting substantial bribes and favoring allies in military promotions. His predecessor, Wei Fenghe, received the identical sentence. The convictions underscore Beijing's ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the defense ministry.

Russia announces Victory Day ceasefire, threatens missile strike on Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts celebrations Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on the evening of May 4 that Vladimir Putin had ordered a “ceasefire in honor of the Victory Day celebrations” on May 8 and 9. “We expect the Ukrainian side to follow this example,” the ministry said, warning that if Ukraine attempted to disrupt the celebrations, Russian armed forces would “deliver a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv.”

According to the Defense Ministry, 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 140,399 unmanned aerial vehicles, 658 anti-aircraft missile systems, 29,127 tanks and other armored combat vehicles

Romanian deep-tech defense company Qognifly unveils integrated drone system with NATO interoperability Qognifly, a Romanian deep-tech defense company specializing in the design, production, and integration of autonomous aerial systems, presented a fully integrated and operational drone ecosystem during the LCI-X 1-26 Eastern Phoenix 2026 (EAPH 26) exercise, organized by Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the Ministry of National Defence, at the Capu Midia range in Constanța County. The exercise, which took place last week, focused on innovation and experimentation in countering threats posed by unmanned aerial systems. Companies from the defense industry, both domestic and foreign, also participated in the tests, aiming to sign contracts with the Romanian Army.  During the exercise, Qognifly presented two NATO Class I Small ISR drones capable of missions of up to 24 hours, an X-band radar detection system integrated with visible and infrared optical sensors, a NATO-interoperable C2 platform using the SAPIENT protocol, and the multi-role STUD drone, developed in partnership with US-based Xdown.

Russian Foreign Ministry calls on foreign states to evacuate their diplomats from Kiev Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that on May 4, 2026, the Defense Ministry issued an official statement "in connection with the threats of the Kiev regime to strike Moscow on a sacred holiday for all Russians - Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War

Zelensky says Russia never notified Ukraine of ceasefire or invited it to join, calls short-term halt meaningless Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, effective May 8 and 9, 2026, by order of President Vladimir Putin.

The US Ministry of Defense is planning to withdraw five of its soldiers from Germany. This step is taken at a time when tension has increased between US President Donald Trump and German Prime Minister Friedrich Merich regarding the Iran war.

The ministry said that the North battlegroup defeated formations of the Ukrainian mechanized brigade and the air defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Druzhba, Velikaya Berezka and Kondratovka in the Sumy Region

Russian forces strike Ukrainian UAV assembly workshops in past day — top brass Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 290 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and an armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility, the Defense Ministry reported

Representatives of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense said on Saturday, in a post on the ministry's Facebook page, that SAFE represents "a chance to catch up" and equip Romania with "efficient combat systems." "If this program is successfully carried out, the Romanian Army will look completely different in just a few years," the quoted source said.

Uzbekistan Reports 60 WWII Veterans Remaining Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense says 60 World War II veterans and equivalent survivors remain in the country, with social support measures in place.

Mali leader takes over Defense Ministry after deadly attacks Mali’s leader, Assimi Goita, has assumed defense minister duties after vowing to neutralize militants behind recent deadly attacks Read Full Article at RT.com

The defense lawyer, Cristóbal Bonacic, affirmed that the Public Ministry "is adjusting the facts so that a more solid, robust, thick accusation results, and leaving my client as if he were, effectively, a person who dedicates the entire public service to defrauding the State."

Russia–Ukraine Victory Day truce collapses as Moscow and Kyiv trade accusations of violations On May 4, Russia and Ukraine announced they would temporarily halt fighting — but without coordinating their decisions. Russia’s Defense Ministry declared a temporary truce in honor of Victory Day, to run from May 8 through 9. President Zelensky responded by announcing that Ukraine was declaring its own truce earlier, beginning at midnight on May 6.

Almost 300 Ukrainian drones downed over Russia in single night – MOD Nearly 300 Ukrainian drones have even downed across 19 Russian regions, according to the Defense Ministry Read Full Article at RT.com

Kiev must act to mitigate the damage done by the latest ‘Mindich tapes’ leak, according to a Defense Ministry anti-graft advisory Read Full Article at RT.com