Russia denies breach of defense system, West sends 575 tanks to Ukraine

"Statements on some Telegram channels that the defense system has been breached at various points along the front line are untrue," TASS news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying this morning, May 12. The ministry affirmed that the situation in the area of Russia's military operation was generally under control.

Russian assault units continued to attack western parts of the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, with the support of aircraft and artillery at 10 p.m. on May 11, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Information noise about the 'counter-attack' situation in Bakhmut

The ministry also said that units of the southern fighting group were making every effort to blockade the city of Avdiivka and take control of the city of Maryinka, also in Donetsk province.

Nga bác hệ thống phòng thủ bị phá vỡ, phương Tây gửi 575 xe tăng cho Ukraine - Ảnh 1. — A Ukrainian serviceman sits inside a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle on the way to Bakhmut on April 21.

Also according to the Russian Defense Ministry, a battle is currently underway to repel a Ukrainian attack targeting the city of Maloilyinovka in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

The Russian Defense Ministry made the statement after a senior Ukrainian military officer said Russian forces had withdrawn from some areas near Bakhmut following limited counterattacks by Kyiv forces around that city, according to AFP.

In addition, Mr. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military company Wagner whose mercenaries participated in the battle for Bakhmut, admitted in the past three days that some Ukrainian units had successfully broken through in some areas, according to AFP.

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The West has delivered 28 aircraft to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Representative of Poland to the European Union (EU) announced on May 11 that the West had handed over 28 planes and 575 tanks to Ukraine, according to TASS news agency.

"Of the 575 tanks delivered to Ukraine so far, [Poland] has 325. [France] is second (85), [Germany] third (80) and [the US] fourth (76). In addition, of the 28 aircraft delivered to [Ukraine] so far, Poland has sent 14 MiG-29 fighter jets," the Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced that since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, EU member states have sent weapons and ammunition worth 16 billion euros to Ukraine, completed the training of 17,000 soldiers and plan to deliver 1 million artillery shells before the end of this year, according to TASS.

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