"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow and Hanoi agreed to negotiate and sign agreements to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement on May 11.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
The aftermath of a Russian strike on Khotin, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, killed two police officers and injured another six on Feb. 27, 2024. (Interior Ministry/Telegram)
A Russian strike on the village of Khotin near Sumy killed two police officers and wounded another six, Ukraine’s National Police reported on Feb. 27.
Settlements in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast are regularly subjected to Russian attacks due to their proximity to the border with Russia.
The strike took place when a group of investigators was inspecting the scene of an earlier Russian attack on the village that happened a day before, according to the National Police.
The bodies of two police officers were reportedly retrieved from the rubble, while six other officers were hospitalized following the attack.
“Police officers do not leave civilians even in the hottest spots. Constantly risking their lives, remaining faithful to the Oath. And today's tragedy proves that these are not just words,” Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
Law enforcement officers and first responders are regularly targeted by Russian attacks while recording war crimes and assisting civilians.
The State Emergency Service's spokesman, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, said on Aug. 8, 2023, that 78 Ukrainian first responders had been killed in Russian attacks while doing their job since the beginning of the all-out war.
Igor Kossov
