The Kyiv Independent reported this afternoon, May 12, that in the previous 24 hours, Russian attacks were recorded in 9 provinces in Ukraine, including Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Luhansk and Donetsk.
According to local authorities, the attacks left two civilians dead and 22 injured.
Russian forces used mortars, tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, grenade launchers, air defense missile systems, drones and tactical aircraft to attack 161 settlements, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's media center on May 12.
There is no information yet on Russia's reaction. Moscow has denied that its military campaign in Ukraine targets civilians.
See also : Ukraine suffers fiercest attack since early March
Ukraine claims to have retaken some areas in Bakhmut
Ukraine said on May 12 that its forces had retaken some territory around the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region, which has been the focus of fighting with Russian forces for months, according to AFP.
"The enemy has suffered huge losses in manpower. Our defense forces have advanced two kilometers near Bakhmut. We have not lost a single position in Bakhmut this week," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar said in a statement on social media.
Ukrainian servicemen drive tanks on the road to Bakhmut on May 12.
Ms Malyar's comments came after a Ukrainian military officer said this week that Russian forces had withdrawn from some areas near Bakhmut following limited counterattacks by Kyiv forces.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry denied on the evening of May 11 that Ukraine had made any breakthrough in Bakhmut, saying that reports of territorial losses around the city "do not correspond to reality," according to AFP.
See more : Ukraine counterattacks in Bakhmut, Russia admits to facing difficulties
Russia denies breach of defense system
The Russian Defense Ministry on May 11 denied information that the country's military defense line had been broken at several hot spots in 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 reported this morning, May 12, citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry affirmed that the situation in the area of Russia's military operation was generally under control.
See more : Russia denies that its defense system was broken, the West sends 575 tanks to Ukraine
Ukraine begins to "shape" operations before counterattack
CNN today, May 12, quoted a senior US military official and a senior Western official as revealing that Ukrainian forces have begun "shaping" operations ahead of a counterattack against Russian forces.
Shaping involves attacking targets such as arsenals, command centers, armored and artillery installations to prepare the battlefield for advancing forces. It is a standard tactic carried out before large combined operations.
When Ukraine launched a counteroffensive late last summer in the south and northeast, it used airstrikes to shape the battlefield. According to senior US military officials, these shaping operations could continue for days before Ukraine launches any planned counteroffensive.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country still needed "a little more time" before launching a counterattack, to allow some more Western-aided military hardware to reach Ukraine.
See more : What factors are slowing down Ukraine's counterattack plan, says German general?
Can Western hopes disrupt Ukraine's counteroffensive plans?
Western support could be a "double-edged sword" for Ukraine's upcoming counteroffensive against Russian forces.
The idea that Ukraine's planned counterattack was crucial to its ultimate victory is becoming increasingly popular among Western leaders, according to Business Insider .
This means the pressure on Kyiv is growing. Experts say expectations about what Ukraine can — and should — achieve in a counteroffensive could undermine Kyiv’s plans.
See more : 'Double-edged sword' in Ukraine's counterattack efforts
Russia's Black Sea Fleet strengthens defense capabilities
The commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov, said on May 12 that the fleet's defenses are being tightened, Reuters reported, citing the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda . In the interview, Sokolov added that the Black Sea Fleet will receive four new ships by 2023.
Mr. Sokolov made the statement following a series of drone attacks on the Black Sea Fleet base, the port of Sevastopol in Crimea. Sevastopol has been attacked by UAVs several times since Russia began its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Ukraine tends to avoid accepting direct responsibility for attacks targeting the Crimean peninsula.
See more : Why is the West not optimistic about Ukraine's ability to regain control of Crimea?
Chinese envoy to visit 5 European countries to resolve Ukraine conflict
CGTN television network reported today, May 12, that Mr. Li Hui, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, will begin a working trip to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia from May 15 to discuss a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.
According to the South China Morning Post , Mr. Li will be the highest-ranking Chinese government official to set foot in Ukraine since Russia launched a military campaign there in February 2022.
See more : China sends special envoys to 5 European countries to resolve Ukraine conflict
Kremlin says it does not know about Vatican peace mission to Ukraine
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Moscow was unaware of a Vatican peace mission involving Ukraine after diplomatic sources revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 13, according to Reuters.
Earlier, speaking to the press on the flight from Hungary to the Vatican on April 30, Pope Francis said the Holy See is participating in a peace mission to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Moscow had no information about the initiative, but that such information could be shared with them in the future.
See also : Vatican joins secret peace mission to Ukraine
US agrees to sell Chinook helicopters to Germany
The Pentagon announced on May 11 that the US State Department has approved the sale of CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and related equipment to Germany for up to $8.5 billion.
The potential deal between the US and Germany includes 140 engines, missile warning systems, navigation systems and other equipment, Reuters reported, citing an announcement from the Pentagon.
See more : US approves $8.5 billion helicopter sale package to Germany
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