Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine finally escalated on the 1,162nd day, marked by significant events:

Fighting and Diplomacy Update: May 1

Things are heating up on the battlefield and Diplomatic Landscape. Here's a rundown of the recent events:

Fighting

Russian drones targeted Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa early on Thursday, setting fires and causing damage to dwellings and infrastructure, according to the regional governor. Odesa wasn't the only city affected; Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in the northeast, was hit by another Russian drone that struck a petrol station in the city center, causing a fire.
In a notable development, Ukraine's SBU security agency claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a defense manufacturing facility in Russia. The strike on Murom Instrument-Building Plant, located 300km east of Moscow, reportedly sparked a fire and damaged two buildings, the region's governor declared.
Russian air defense units reportedly destroyed 34 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russian news agencies shared, quoting the country's Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskii, stated that Russian forces have escalated combat activity in eastern Ukraine, despite Moscow declaring a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10.
Despite announcing the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from the border region over the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that some small groups of Ukrainian soldiers were still holed up in basements and hideouts in Russia's western Kursk region. The Kremlin reported at least 288 civilian deaths during Ukraine's months-long incursion into Kursk.

But it isn't just Russia and Ukraine involved in this conflict - there's an international dimension.

South Korean lawmakers, based on their country's intelligence agency, estimated that about 600 North Korean troops have been killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine out of a total deployment of 15,000.
Amid concerns over Russia's use of Chinese fighters, U.S. lawmakers asked the Department of State to brief them on the subject. They believe Moscow could only employ Chinese mercenaries with Beijing's "tacit approval."

Diplomacy

In a significant move, the US and Ukraine signed a long-awaited agreement granting Washington access to Kyiv's minerals in exchange for investment in Ukraine's defense and reconstruction.
US President Donald Trump expressed his view that Putin wants to halt Russia's war in Ukraine; despite the recent attacks against Ukraine, Trump believes Putin aims to avoid taking over the whole country.
However, the Kremlin stated that Putin is open to peace in Ukraine, but the intense work required to achieve the rapid progress Washington seeks is difficult to accomplish due to the complexities of the conflict.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed that Putin was willing for direct talks with Ukraine, but there has been no response from Kyiv as of yet.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha affirmed that Ukraine was prepared for peace talks in any format if Moscow committed to an unconditional ceasefire.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed Canada's commitment to supporting Ukraine in achieving lasting peace and security.

The North Korean Presence

Despite initial reports suggesting around 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia last autumn, updated intelligence suggests a significantly larger number. Recent calculations by South Korea's military indicate that an additional 3,000 troops were sent to Russia to replace casualties, bringing the total deployment to 15,000. Estimates of North Korean troops killed or injured vary, with South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff estimating around 4,000 casualties, while U.S. estimates put the number at 1,200.

In conclusion, the conflict in Ukraine is a complex, multifaceted issue reaching beyond the Ukrainian-Russian border, with North Korea emerges as a significant actor in the conflict.

The recent events in Ukraine involve escalating combat activity in eastern Ukraine, with Russian forces using drones to target cities like Odesa and Kharkiv, causing destruction and casualties.
In a move to counter Russia, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a defense manufacturing facility in Russia.
Diplomatically, the US and Ukraine have signed an agreement granting Washington access to Kyiv's minerals in exchange for investment, indicating a strengthened diplomatic relationship.
Despite Trump's belief that Putin wants to halt Russia's war in Ukraine, the Kremlin finds it difficult to achieve the rapid progress Washington seeks due to the complexities of the conflict.
The presence of North Korean troops in the conflict is a notable international dimension, with recent calculations suggesting a total deployment of 15,000 soldiers, replacing casualties from an initial deployment of around 10,000 to 12,000.