War in Europe

Ukraine, Italian contractor killed

His name was Alex Pineschi. This was announced by the volunteer association Memorial

28 May 2026

Edificio danneggiato da un attacco russo nella città di Kramatorsk, Ucraina REUTERS

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

An Italian contractor, Alex Pineschi, was killed in Ukraine. The volunteer association Memorial announced: 'our beloved brother died on the battlefield'. Pineschi had volunteered to defend Ukraine after Russia's invasion in 2022. Originally from La Spezia, 42, a former Alpine soldier, he had also fought against Isis in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, while discussing Ukraine's accession to the European Union, the conflict between Kiev and Russia flared up again with cross-drone attacks. In the night Russian forces attacked Ukraine with a Kinzhal airborne ballistic missile and 147 drones of various types.

The Kiev Air Defence shot down 138 drones, although missile attacks and nine UAVs were recorded in seven different locations. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. The Kinzhal missile was launched from the Lipetsk region of Russia. Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defence Forces were deployed to repel the attack.

In parallel, Moscow reports that last night the Russian military intercepted and destroyed 62 Ukrainian drones. According to a Russian Defence Ministry note published on the Max platform, 'air defence warning systems intercepted and destroyed 62 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones flying over the Belgorod regions, Bryansk, Voronezh, Nizhnij, Novgorod and Tambov, the Republic of Crimea and the Azov Sea'.

On the diplomatic side, after Moscow suggested that Europe choose as mediator its long-time ally, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas says: "I find it a trap that Russia wants us to fall into, the fact that we are discussing who should talk to them and that they are already choosing who is suitable and who is not. Let us not fall into this trap. Negotiation is always a team effort. There are positives and negatives, there is a strategy, the way you sit at the table. That is why substance is much more important than who' negotiates.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, arriving at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus, returned to dwell on Kiev's EU membership: "The government" of Italia "is in favour". The problem is 'that of the timing, we are studying at European level what is the best formula. There are many proposals on the table, but I repeat: Ukraine is fine, we will help them, but it is important not to put the accession of the Balkans, which represent a priority for us, in a corner'.

Kallas: Europe will never be neutral between Russia and Ukraine

Europe "will never be a neutral mediator" between Russia and Ukraine "because we are on Ukraine's side and defend our fundamental security interests". This was said by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, at the end of the informal Foreign Affairs Council in Cyprus, accusing Moscow of not showing "a genuine interest in peace". "Russia continues not to show a genuine interest in peace," Kallas stressed, reiterating that "an unconditional ceasefire is a prerequisite for any kind of peace negotiations."

Kallas: War is turning in favour of Kiev

High Representative for European Policy Kaja Kallas, at today's press conference at the end of the informal Gymnich-format meeting, noted that, to date, 'the dynamics of the war are shifting in favour of Ukraine'.

"Russia is lagging behind militarily, economically and diplomatically. But, as the recent attacks against Kiev have shown, Russia does not yet show a real interest in peace, and this was clearly highlighted by the ministers today. Moscow's direct threat to kill foreign diplomats in Kiev constitutes a public announcement of a war crime," Kallas noted.

Shoigu: attack on Kiev can happen at any time

"The attack against Kiev, about which the Russian Foreign Ministry warned Western ambassadors in Kiev, could take place at any time," Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said today.

"This could happen at any time. And when we decide that the response must be with the force we have repeatedly talked about, we will respond to the terrorist act that caused the death of our young men and women,' Shoigu said, responding to a question about whether the refusal of European ambassadors to leave Kiev could influence Russia's determination to implement its plan.

"Therefore, in this case, we have warned of the power of the attack, and we have also demonstrated it. We have everything we need to do so," Shoigu argued.