"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.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks during the press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Dec. 11, 2023. (Atila Altuntas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Sweden announced a new humanitarian aid package for Ukraine worth 1.4 billion Swedish krona ($133 million), Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference on Dec. 11.
The aid package, which is the largest humanitarian support package that Sweden has ever given to Ukraine, aims to help Ukraine cope with the increase in Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure during the winter months.
"The cold winter must be met with our solidarity. It is about both their freedom and ours. Ukraine must win the war and Russia must lose the war," foreign policy spokesperson Joar Forssell said.
The bulk of the package, 900 million Swedish krona ($86 million), will go to the supporting energy, housing, health, and transport infrastructure through the World Bank's Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Reform Trust Fund.
Another 300 million Swedish krona ($29 million) is earmarked for the European Development Bank's environmental and energy fund for Ukraine, while 100 million Swedish krona ($9.5 million) will go to the Grain from Ukraine initiative to support Ukraine's agricultural exports.
Unesco will receive 75 million Swedish krona ($7.1 million) to build air raid shelters in schools and kindergartens.
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the emergency response and civil defense branch of the Defense Ministry, will also receive funding worth 25 million Swedish krona ($2.4 million) to support Ukraine's critical infrastructure, such as heating supply.
"Ukraine is living through yet another winter under Russian aggression," Aid Minister Johan Forssell said.
Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure "have devastating consequences for an already hard-hit population and worsen the humanitarian situation in the country," Forssell said.
According to the Swedish government, Sweden has provided Ukraine with 5.2 billion Swedish krona ($495 million) in humanitarian support since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.
Daria Shulzhenko
