Brief facts:
- UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an investigation into the crimes of Russian troops in the liberated territories of Ukraine
- russians block exits from underground passages at Azovstal, Mariupol defenders counterattack.
- "Lend-Lease is a scheme to give us everything we need for defense" – Zelensky.
- Ukraine offers to exchange Azovstal defenders for russian captives.
- The Democratic-led House of Representatives voted 368-57 on Tuesday evening to pass a roughly $40 billion bill to deliver aid to Ukraine.
Side note: news are marked in accordance with the Kyiv time zone: Eastern European Time (EET), GMT/UTC+2
Read more: Ukrainian Military Sent to Hell russian T-90 "Vladimir" Tank to Acompany His "Younger Brother" T-90M "Proryv" Tank
Latest news
00:32 According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine post on Facebook, on May 12, the units of the Army Forces, Air Forces and Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed seven air targets of the Russian occupiers: 5 UAVs (Orlan-10), 1 helicopter (Ka-52) and 1 cruise missile.
As Defense Express reported, russians are facing non-stop military losses on Ukrainian soil. About 26650 agressor's troops eliminated, 758 air targets (excluding cruise missiles) of invaders were shot down thousands of tanks, armored vehicles and tracks were destroyed by defenders of Ukraine from 24.02 to 12.05.22
23:55 The Russian military have launched eight to 12 missile strikes on the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava Region.
The relevant statement was made by Poltava Regional Military Administration Head Dmytro Lunin on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Eight to 12 Russian missiles have hit the city of Kremenchuk, the oil refinery and other infrastructure facilities,” Lunin wrote.
A reminder that Poltava Regional Military Administration Head Dmytro Lunin stated earlier that four Russian missiles again hit Kremenchuk Oil Refinery.
23:15 Ukraine has called on the UN Security Council and Secretary General Antonio Guterres to make every effort to ensure the evacuation of wounded servicemen from the Azovstal steelworks.
That’s according to Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsia, Ukrinform’s own correspondent in New York reported from the UN Security Council meeting.
“The defenders of Mariupol have already done the impossible. They stopped the overwhelming russian troops for more than 3 months. Their contribution to the disruption of the Russian blitzkrieg plans can’t be overestimated,” the statement reads.
The ambassador noted that many of the Ukrainian defenders remaining at the Azovstal stronghold have sustained grave injuries and have no access to the required medical assistance.
23:03 In May, a satellite operated by Planet Labs recorded a growing area of a mass burial site near Mariupol, in particular in the urban-type settlement of Staryi Krym.
This is evidenced by the images shot on May 8, available to the Schemes investigative project, Ukrinform reports.
“The biggest changes were recorded by the Planet Labs satellite in May in the urban-type settlement of Staryi Krym northwest of Mariupol. In the satellite image of May 8, the mass grave site in the local cemetery has increased from 200 meters to over 340 meters in length – compared to the photo of this area taken on April 24 ... The number of trenches has also increased," the report reads.
In the photo of May 8, a unit of heavy equipment is also seen, which could be an excavator.
The mass burial site has also grown in size in the cemetery near the village of Vynohradne, east of Mariupol.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine (May)
22:30 Adviser to the Head of the Presidentʼs Office Mykhailo Podoliak called the statements of the Deputy Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations regarding Ukraine in the EU hypocritical.
21:57 According to the post on Facebook, during the day Joint Forces Task Force destroyed:
- 13 tanks;
- 8 artillery systems (one of them MLRS)
- 27 units of combat armored vehicles;
- 2 units of special engineering equipment;
- 5 cars;
- 1 Ka-52 propeller;
- 4 drones of the Orlan-10 type.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The 78th Day of the War: Russian Casualties in Ukraine
21:13 A spokesman for the Odesa Military Administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, reports that the Russian logistics ship Vsevolod Bobrov caught fire on Zmiyiny Island due to the actions of our sailors.
20:45 Ukrainian Warries Showed How Brimstone Missiles are Launched from Land Platform.
A video with British Brimstone guided missiles launching was spread in social network. They were located on a back of the light commercial vehicle GAZelle. The launcher had several cells to start. Other details have been hidden by the awning.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
British Brimstone High-Precision Missiles Already Used in Ukraine (Photo)
20:05 The UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an investigation into the crimes of Russian troops in the liberated territories of Ukraine. 33 countries voted in favor, China and Eritrea voted against.
The resolution requested the Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the events in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, and asked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report to the next session of the Council in June this year. situation in Mariupol.
The Council calls on Russia to provide access to Ukrainians deported to Russia, prisoners and people held in the occupied territories.
19:28 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published operational information as of 6 pm 12.05.2022:
- The Russian army did not take any active action in the Volyn and Polissia areas. The second stage of checking the readiness of units of the Belarusian armed forces continues.
- The threat of missile and bomb strikes from Belarus on infrastructure facilities in Ukraine remains.
- In the northern direction, the Russians shelled the border areas of Ukraine.
- In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army tried to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing and liberating Russian-occupied territories.
- The enemy fired on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the areas of the settlements of Pytomnyk and Ruski Tyshky.
- In the Slovyansk direction, the enemy fired on the areas of settlements along the line of contact and conducted air reconnaissance with the Orlan-10 drone.
- In the Donetsk direction, the occupiers used mortars, artillery, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and rocket-bomb airstrikes to destroy Ukrainian troopsʼ fortifications.
- In the Lyman direction, the enemy is trying to capture the area on the right bank of the Seversky Donets River and gain a foothold in the Oleksandrivka area. The Russians also tried unsuccessfully to storm the village of Novoselivka.
- In the Sievierodonetsk direction, the Russian army continues to storm the area of Voievodovka, has no success.
- In the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Kurakhove directions, the enemy is storming to improve its tactical position but has no success.
- In Mariupol, the Russian army launches artillery and air strikes and blocks the Azovstal plant.
- The Russian occupiers conducted air reconnaissance by drones in the Pokrovsk, Slovyansk and Pavlohrad districts.
- In the South Buh direction, the enemy did not conduct active hostilities, held positions, and increased electronic warfare systems.
- Russians increase air defense forces in the western part of the Crimean peninsula.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Fourteen Russian Attacks Repelled in Ukraine's East
18:59 Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, said “very difficult negotiations” are ongoing to evacuate seriously wounded fighters from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
Vereshchuk said yesterday that Kyiv had proposed to Moscow that badly injured defenders in the plant be swapped for Russian prisoners of war, The Guardian reports.
Writing on her Telegram, Vereshchuk said: “To be clear: we are currently negotiating only about 38 severely wounded (bedridden) fighters. We work step by step. We will exchange 38, then we will move on. There are currently no talks on the exchange of 500 or 600 people, which is being reported by some media outlets.”
18:25 Ukraine-manufactured Stugna anti-tank guided missile system increases the number of destroyed russia’s armored vehicles
The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue the operation of "demilitarization" of the russian occupiers.
Another episode with russia’s IFV destruction has been published by Rapid Reaction Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Whatch the video and find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukraine’s Stugna ATGM Annihilates russia’s BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Video)
18:00 The UN’s human rights council has passed a resolution to investigate alleged abuses by Russian troops in parts of Ukraine formerly under their control, with a view to holding those responsible to account.
More than 50 countries backed Ukraine’s request for a special session of the council to examine “the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression,” The Guardian reports.
The resolution passed by a strong majority, with 33 members voting in favour and two – China and Eritrea – against. There were 12 abstentions.
17:25 Defense Ministry of Ukraine: Enemy trying to build up military presence on Zmiyiny Island.
The enemy is trying to build up its military presence on Zmiyiny Island in order to block Ukraine's sea lanes, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.
"Ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Black and Azov Seas continue to carry out tasks to isolate the area of warfare, conduct reconnaissance and try to provide fire support to their troops in the coastal direction. The enemy is also trying to build up a military presence on Zmiyiny Island. The goal is to block Ukraine's sea communications," Motuzianyk said at a briefing at the Ukraine media center in Kyiv on Thursday.
The spokesperson said "there are certain successes of the Ukrainian army, including the destruction of the Russian sailors."
"The enemy is reinforcing air defense systems on the western coast of the Crimean peninsula, in particular, in the area of the village of Chornomorske, Cape Tarkhankut, an S-300 anti-aircraft missile battery has been deployed as part of three command posts," Motuzianyk said.
16:45 The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine states that due to the significant decline of the Russian defense industry as a result of sanctions imposed, Russia is unable to fully restore the combat capability of military units withdrawn from Ukraine
"The consequence of economic sanctions imposed by the world's leading powers on the aggressor power is a significant decline in Russia's military-industrial complex. Having lost much of its military and technical potential during the war in Ukraine, the Russians are forced to supply equipment and armaments produced in 1950s-1960s," the defense intelligence reported.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Sanctions are Working: Russia Failing to Restore Combat Capability of Units Withdrawn from Ukraine
16:20 German MP says tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine would isolate Russia from UN.
Russia must be kept from even thinking about using nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
That’s according to a German lawmaker, Roderick Kiesewetter, who spoke with Guildhall, as reported by Ukrinform.
“The use of tactical nuclear weapons or the causing of an accident in Ukraine is unlikely, but possible,” the legislator warns.
He noted that the use of tactical nuclear weapons “would cause a total isolation of Russia from UN for a long time.”
Asked about the initiative to have the UN General Assembly adopt a resolution implying that the use of a nuclear weapon by Russia would be seen as a declaration of war against humanity, Keisewetter said: “The problem with an initiative is that it counteracts the principle of nuclear deterrence. On the other hand it would show the strength of international rules-based order and could keep Russia from even thinking about the use.”
At the same time, the lawmaker sees the prospects of Russia launching a nuclear attack as “unrealistic” as Russia “would know about the consequences.”
“Putin is afraid of democracy and freedom movements,” Keisewetter told Guildhall. “As a self-confident, well-fortified democracy, we should therefore be bold and show courage and we should not be deterred by Russia´s propaganda.”
16:00 Adviser to the Head of the Office of President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, has demanded an immediate EU embargo on Russian oil.
Podolyak tweeted: “If the leaders had acted decisively in 1938, Europe could have avoided WWII. But politicians acted cowardly & flirted with the aggressor. The result is million tragedies. History won’t forgive us if we make the same mistake again.”
15:15 Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska: Three killed as Russia deliberately bombs schools in Ukraine’s Novhorod-Siverskyi.
Three people were killed and 12 others sustained injuries as a result of a Russian air strike overnight Thursday which targeted a secondary school and a boarding school in Novhorod-Siverskyi, Chernihiv region.
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska delivered the news on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
“Tonight, a Russian warplane fired missiles at secondary and boarding schools in Novhorod-Siverskyi, Chernihiv region. Rescuers are currently working at the scene, but three victims and 12 injured persons have already been confirmed. This was a deliberate bombing. The Russians, who claim to be attacking only military facilities, are waging war against our children. In fact, they are waging war against our future," said Olena Zelenska.
The First Lady recalled that, in early May, the Russian invaders burnt down a historical gymnasium in Lysychansk, Luhansk region, which had been built by the Belgians over a hundred years ago. She also mentioned an air strike on the school in Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, which allegedly claimed the lives of 60 civilians. The school basement served as the only remaining shelter for the locals.
The First Lady added that 1,635 educational facilities across Ukraine were affected by bombardments and shelling, with 126 establishments being completely destroyed, according to the Ukrainian Education Ministry. She noted that the Education Ministry had drawn up a map of such facilities.
"Whether Russia's actions in Ukraine are genocide is currently being discussed around the world. Instead of answering, look at this map. Every day a new school or kindergarten, which was deliberately destroyed by the Russians with unprecedented cynicism, previously unheard, appears here,” the First Lady emphasized.
14:45 Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk: We must do everything to not let Azovstal become military tragedy of 21st century.
Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk stressed the need to ensure that the siege of the Azovstal stronghold in Mariupol does not become a military tragedy of the 21st century.
The official spoke on the French TV channel LCI, according to the Government portal, Ukrinform reports.
"I believe we must do absolutely everything so that the tragedy of Azovstal doesn’t remain in war history textbooks as the greatest tragedy of the 21st century. We need a humanitarian corridor to start a dialogue. And if it happens, people seeking to be rescued will get that chance. That is what depends on Russia, and that is what is currently being negotiated. Only then can we talk about any steps beyond that," Vereshchuk said.
At the same time, the senior official stated that humanitarian corridors are currently very difficult to set up, as Russia does not want to cooperate in evacuations.
"In fact, Russia doesn’t want any evacuations. They plan to destroy everyone and everything. Only you, dear journalists, the international community, the peoples of the civilized world, are not allowing this to happen! Your focus is on Azovstal, and this prevents the aggressor from bombing and destroying everyone there. And this is our common cause – not to allow the killing of people who can’t defend themselves," said Vice PM.
14:20 The Armed Forces of Ukraine effectively use M777 howitzers for counter-battery fire.
The Ukrainian warriors are already using American M777A2 howitzers on the battlefield - and they are having their first successes. This is stated in the video of Yuri Butusov, the editor-in-chief of "Censor.NET" Urainian Internet source.
"Extremely high accuracy, quality, efficiency, modern ammunition, modern gun. Great losses for the Russian army," - such characteristics are given to American guns in the video.
Whatch the video and find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The First Successes of American M777A2 Howitzer on Battlefield in Ukraine - russia’s 2S3 Akatsiya Self-Propelled Gun Eliminated (video)
13:50 Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Finland would be “warmly welcomed” into the alliance and promised the accession process would be “smooth and swift”.
Nato membership of Finland would strengthen both the alliance and Finland, Stoltenberg said after Finland announced it would apply to join Nato “without delay”, The Guardian reports.
Stoltenberg said: “Should Finland decide to apply, they would be warmly welcomed into Nato, and the accession process would be smooth and swift.”
Finland is one of Nato’s “closest partners, a mature democracy, a member of the European Union, and an important contributor to Euro-Atlantic security”, he added.
Finnish membership to Nato would prove that the alliance’s “door is open”, Stoltenberg said, and that Finland “decides its own future”.
13:30 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had spoken with his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinistö, and “commended” him on Finland’s move to join Nato, The Guardian reports.
Niinistö tweeted earlier that he had spoken to Zelenskiy, who had “expressed his full support” for Finland’s steps towards Nato membership.
13:15 Russian troops launch deadly missile attack on Kharkiv region.
A person was killed and three sustained injuries in a missile attack on the town of Derhachi, Kharkiv region, Thursday morning.
Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov reported on the attack via Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
"It was relatively quiet in Kharkiv over the past day. The enemy didn’t bombard the city itself. However, the settlements across the region are suffering from strikes. The occupiers fired at the village of Mala Danylivka using multiple rocket launchers. This morning the enemy hit Derhachi with a missile. Unfortunately, one person died and three were injured," the Regional Military Administration head said.
Oleh Syniehubov reiterated that people must not relax or neglect own safety. He urged residents to stay indoors whenever possible.
The official noted that the work to restore the region’s critical infrastructure is ongoing. "Gas supply has been restored in seven villages of the Borova community (currently occupied, - ed.). The mission to restore gas supply in Kharkiv districts and villages across the region affected by shelling is underway," the Administration head said.
12:57 The head of the Luhansk region military administration Serhiy Hayday: Situation along Luhansk front lines "significantly deteriorated".
Serhiy Hayday, head of the Luhansk region military administration, said the enemy had "completely destroyed the captured settlements in Luhansk ... Shelling intensified along the entire Luhansk front."
He said that Ukrainian units in Belohorivka are "now holding back the Russian invasion ... our defenders have twice destroyed pontoon crossings, and based on the actions of the Russians, the third time will be the same," CNN reports.
12:35 Destroy the Russian invaders by all possible means is what really like: territorial defense servicemen get an old anti-aircraft gun install it on KrAZ truck and now they are ready to repel enemy’s UAVs assault.
Read more in the article: Kharkiv Civil Defense Got 57mm AZP S-60 Anti-Aircraft Gun to Withstand Enemy UAVs and Armored Vehicles
11:24 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared a spectacular video of mop-up operation conducted by the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
11:00 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published the new summary of total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 12.05.
According to the report, about 26650 agressor's troops eliminated, 758 air targets (excluding cruise missiles) of invaders were shot down thousands of tanks, armored vehicles and tracks were destroyed by defenders of Ukraine.
Find more in the article by Defense Express: russian casualties in Ukraine
10:40 Advisor to Mariupol Mayor Petro Andriushchenko: Russians block exits from underground passages at Azovstal, Mariupol defenders counterattack.
“Yesterday the enemy did not stop their ground assault attempts. The key objective is to block the exits from underground passages, which have been shown to the enemy by a traitor. Nevertheless, Mariupol defenders are making counterattack attempts, risking everything. There are no words to describe the heroism of Mariupol defenders,” Andriushchenko wrote, Ukrinform reports.
09:45 Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko: So long as there's war in Ukraine we can't give the guarantee for any Ukrainian.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko told CNN “there’s no doubt” the capital is still Russia’s main target in the war. The mayor warned residents coming back to the city to be cautious. “As mayor, I tell anyone, sorry, it’s your personal risk, but we can’t give you a guarantee”, Kyiv Independent reports.
09:15 Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych: The city faces bombardments "almost every day".
The mayor of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine told CNN on Wednesday that his city’s proximity to the battlefields between Russian and Ukrainian forces in nearby Kherson means bombardments have occurred “almost every day.”
The frontlines have remained relatively stationary for two weeks, he said, and officials are expecting more aerial attacks since both militaries have taken defensive positions, CNN reports.
08:45 Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Vyacheslav Chaus: Enemy launches several airstrikes on Chernihiv region. Casualties reported.
"Last night, russian invaders launched several airstrikes on critical infrastructure facilities of Novhorod-Siversky town," Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Vyacheslav Chaus posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
07:45 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted an operational update regarding the russian invasion as of 06.00 on May 12, 2022.
According to the report, the situation remains tense with constant enemy shelling and conducting offensive in eastern direction.
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Ukraine’s General Staff Operational Report: the Enemy Suffers High Losses With Low Success. Severe Shelling Continues
06:50 Once russian occupiers apply some new armament, Ukraine’s defenders sooner or later destroy it. That’s just what happened to russia's T-90 Vladimir. Moreover, it was caught on camera
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Ukrainian Military Sent to Hell russian T-90 "Vladimir" Tank to Acompany His "Younger Brother" T-90M "Proryv" Tank
05:00 The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: Ukraine destroys bridges to stop advance of Russian troops in Luhansk Oblast.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published on Twitter satellite imagery that reportedly shows two destroyed bridges crossing the Siversky Donets River near the village of Bilohorivka, Kyiv Independent reports.
03:30 Marines commander Serhii Volyna asks Elon Musk to help with evacuation.
The Commander of the Marines defending Mariupol, Serhii Volyna, has appealed to the inventor Elon Musk with a request to help with evacuation from Azovstal. “Elon Musk people say you come from another planet to teach people to believe in the impossible. Our planets are next to each other, as I live where it is nearly impossible to survive. Help us get out of Azovstal to a mediating country. If not you, then who? Give me a hint”, he said, Pravda reports.
00:46 "Lend-Lease is a scheme to give us everything we need for defense" – Zelensky
In his daily address to the people of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the importance of the Lend-Lease Act signed by U.S. President Joe Biden the other day. He said, the legislation is so profitable that it is incorrect to call it a loan.
"Firstly, we will have access to modern weapons, ammunition, equipment, and we do not need to look for options to pay for it all. Secondly, now the President of the United States will not have to agree with Congress on the assistance he provides. This will speed up the delivery."
President also thanked the House of Representatives of the United States Congress for voting in favor of a $ 40 billion in support of Ukraine. When finally adopted, assistance will provide Ukraine with not only weapons, ammunition and equipment but also with support for the investigation of russian war crimes, support for diplomatic work and more.
00:10 "U.S. 155 mm howitzers are already in use on the frontline" – Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar confirmed Wednesday that western weapons have already found their way to the Ukrainian frontlines.
“The U.S. 155 mm howitzers are already in use on the frontline in addition to Javelins and Stingers. We work on speeding up the military aid delivery because the lives of our soldiers depend on it. We have already received a lot of the equipment. Currently, we are in the phase of the regular deliveries of weapons to Ukraine,” the defense official said.
More details:
Western 155mm Howitzers Already on the Ukrainian Frontlines
00:00 Ukraine offers to exchange Azovstal defenders for russian captives
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukraine has offered an exchange to the russian side:
"We take our severely injured guys from Azovstal via a humanitarian corridor. Instead, we hand Russian prisoners over in accordance with the standard rules of prisoner exchange," the official reported on her Telegram channel.
Iryna Vereshchuk noted that currently it is impossible to de-occupy Mariupol by military means. At the same time, the defenders of the encircled city don't intend to surrender.
Russian side hasn't agreed to the proposal yet.
Read more: Day 77th of War Between Ukraine and Russian Federation (Live Updates)
