The Kyiv Independent reported this afternoon, May 12th, that in the previous 24 hours, Russian attacks had been recorded in nine Ukrainian provinces, including Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
According to local authorities, the attacks resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries to 22 others.
Russian forces used mortars, tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, grenade launchers, anti-aircraft missile systems, drones, and tactical aircraft to attack 161 settlements, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense 's media center on May 12.
There is currently no information on Russia's reaction. Moscow has previously denied that its military operation in Ukraine targets civilians.
See also : Ukraine suffers its most intense attack since early March.
Ukraine claims to have regained control of some areas in Bakhmut.
Ukraine said today, May 12, that its forces have recapted parts of the territory surrounding the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk province, which has been the focus of fighting with Russian forces for months, according to AFP.
"The enemy has suffered heavy casualties. 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 soldiers drive tanks on the road to Bakhmut on May 12.
Ms. Malyar made the statement after a Ukrainian military officer said this week that Russian forces had withdrawn from some areas near Bakhmut following limited counterattacks by Kyiv forces.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 breakthroughs in Bakhmut, saying that reports of territorial losses around the city "do not conform to reality," according to AFP.
See also : Ukraine counterattacks in Bakhmut, Russia admits to facing difficulties.
Russia denies reports that its defense system has been breached.
On May 11, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied reports that its military lines had been breached at several hotspots in Ukraine.
"Statements on some Telegram channels claiming that the defense system has been breached at several different points along the front line are untrue," TASS news agency quoted a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense this morning, May 12. The ministry affirmed that the situation in the area of the Russian military operation is generally under control.
See also : Russia denies reports of breached defense system, West sends 575 tanks to Ukraine.
Ukraine begins "shaping" its operations before counterattacking.
CNN reported today, May 12th, citing a senior US military official and a senior Western official, that Ukrainian forces have begun "shaping up" operations ahead of a counterattack against Russian forces.
Formation involves attacking targets such as weapons depots, command centers, armored and artillery systems to prepare the battlefield for advancing forces. It is a standard tactic employed before large-scale combined operations.
When launching a counteroffensive in the south and northeast last summer, the Ukrainian military conducted airstrikes to shape the battlefield. According to a senior U.S. military official, these shaping operations could continue for days before Ukraine launched any planned counteroffensive.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country still needed "a little more time" before launching a counteroffensive, in order to allow more Western-supplied military equipment to arrive in Ukraine.
See also : What factors, according to the German general, are slowing down Ukraine's counterattack plan?
Can Western expectations disrupt Ukraine's counterattack plan?
Western support could be a "double-edged sword" for Ukraine's upcoming counterattack against Russian forces.
According to Business Insider , the idea that Ukraine's planned counterattack is crucial to its ultimate victory is becoming increasingly popular among Western leaders.
This means increasing pressure on Kyiv. According to experts, expectations about what Ukraine can—and should—achieve in the counteroffensive could derail Kyiv's plans.
See also : 'A double-edged sword' in Ukraine's counter-offensive efforts
Russia's Black Sea Fleet is strengthening its defenses.
The commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov, said on May 12 that the fleet's defenses are being tightened, according to Reuters, citing the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda . In the interview, Sokolov added that the Black Sea Fleet will receive four new ships in 2023.
Sokolov made the statement following a series of drone attacks targeting the Black Sea Fleet base, the port of Sevastopol in the Crimean Peninsula. Sevastopol has been repeatedly attacked by drones since Russia began its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Ukraine tends to avoid taking direct responsibility for attacks targeting the Crimean Peninsula.
See also : Why is the West not optimistic about Ukraine regaining control of Crimea?
A Chinese envoy will visit five European countries to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
CGTN reported today, May 12th, that Li Hui, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, will begin a trip to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia starting May 15th to discuss a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.
According to the South China Morning Post , Li will be the highest-ranking Chinese government official to set foot in Ukraine since Russia launched its military operation there in February 2022.
See also : China sends special envoy to 5 European countries to resolve Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin says it was unaware of the Vatican's peace mission regarding Ukraine.
The Kremlin said today, May 12, 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 reporters on a flight from Hungary to the Vatican on April 30, Pope Francis said the Holy See was participating in a peace mission aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Moscow has no information about the initiative, but that such information may be shared with them in the future.
See also : Vatican participates in secret peace mission for Ukraine.
The US agrees to sell Chinook helicopters to Germany.
The Pentagon announced on May 11 that the US State Department had approved a package to sell CH-47F Chinook heavy transport helicopters and related equipment to Germany for up to $8.5 billion.
The potential deal between the U.S. and Germany includes 140 engines, missile warning systems, navigation systems, and other equipment, according to Reuters, citing a Pentagon announcement.
See also : US approves $8.5 billion helicopter sale to Germany.
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