Boyarka - Zhan Beleniuk, an Olympic wrestler with Rwandan roots, is seeking to enter Ukraine's parliament as the first mixed-race MP in a bid to overcome racist attitudes and support the country's young new leader.

Kiev - Volodymyr Zelensky, a 41-year-old comedian with no political experience, shocked Ukraine three months ago, becoming the country's youngest ever post-Soviet leader.Now he wants to replicate his unorthodox success at this month's parliamentary election.

Chernobyl - Ukraine and its European partners on Wednesday formally inaugurated a new metal dome encasing the destroyed reactor at the infamous Chernobyl plant, wrapping up a two-decade effort.

Kiev - Ukraine's recently elected President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday offered to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for their first talks, calling for Western leaders to mediate."Now I want to address the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sydney - The next generation of nuclear reactors has been a long time coming. The good news is that some of the major issues now have solutions. The mixed feelings, however, are much the same.

Kiev - Ukraine on Tuesday announced it is withdrawing its invitation to monitors from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to observe elections later this month, in protest against Russia's reinstatement in the body.

Kiev - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday made an "emotional" plea to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to free 24 sailors captured last November near Crimea.

Kiev - War veterans in fatigues joined more than 8,000 people marching in Kiev's Gay Pride parade amid tight security on Sunday, the biggest ever annual celebration of diversity in ex-Soviet Ukraine.

Kiev - More than 8,000 people turned out on Sunday for Kiev's annual Gay Pride parade amid tight security as far-right activists sought to disrupt the celebration, organisers said.

Kiev - The former head of Ukraine's breakaway independent church held a rare conference of clerics Thursday with the aim of restoring his religious leadership, threatening the future of Ukraine's new unified Orthodox Church.

Kiev - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described beautiful women as part of the country's "brand", prompting a furious backlash from activists and on social media Tuesday.

Mariupol - New Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday made his first official visit to the major trading port city of Mariupol, where he observed joint military exercises in the Sea of Azov.

Kiev - In the acclaimed US mini-series "Chernobyl", Oleksiy Ananenko is hailed as one of three men who helped avert an even greater disaster after the worst nuclear accident in history.

Kiev - Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday named candidates including an Olympic wrestler with Rwandan roots to represent his party in snap parliamentary elections next month.

Kiev - Ukraine on Tuesday arrested two policemen on suspicion of shooting dead a five-year-old boy while drunk in a case that has sparked outrage over lingering corruption and impunity in the force.

Kiev - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called Thursday for the resumption of stalled Ukraine peace talks, after a meeting with French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian and new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.

Kiev - Ukraine's parliament Thursday rejected the prime minister's resignation, despite new president Volodymyr Zelensky urging the government to quit their posts ahead of a snap election.

Kiev - Ukraine's new President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday restored the Ukrainian citizenship of former Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili, less than two years after he was stripped of it and expelled.

Kiev - Just a week after taking office, Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelensky made his first visit Monday to the front line of fighting against Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country, his press office said.

Odessa - A major riot involving 500 prisoners broke out at a penitentiary in the Ukrainian city of Odessa on Monday with the inmates setting fire to buildings and wounding seven staff members, officials said.