"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
"We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
"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.
First responders are searching for people under the rubble of a building damaged in Russia's morning missile strike against Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Jan. 23, 2024. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
Rescuers found the body of an eight-year-old girl killed in Russia’s morning missile strike against Kharkiv, bringing the death toll in the city to eight, Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, reported on Jan. 23.
The girl was likely the daughter of a woman previously found dead under the rubble of an apartment building damaged in the attack, according to Bolvinov.
Russian forces launched 12 missiles of the types S-300, Kh-32, and Iskander against Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv early on Jan. 23, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. The attacks targeted civilian infrastructure and residential buildings, said Syniehubov.
As of 7 p.m. local time, 60 people, including six children, are known to have been injured in the strike, according to the State Emergency Service. At around the same time, Bolvinov said that 57 people were wounded.
The number of casualties is not final since search and rescue operations in Kharkiv are still ongoing.
Russia's morning attack on Kharkiv left 11,000 people and companies without electricity, most of whom have regained access to power supply as of around 7 p.m., Syniehubov said on Telegram.
Except for Kharkiv, Russia targeted Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy oblasts in the morning of Jan. 23, killing one more person and wounding at least 26, according to regional authorities.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
Dmytro Basmat
