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.
"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.
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detain a cargo vessel near Odesa for allegedly shipping out stolen Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied Crimea. Photo published on July 11, 2024. (SBU/Telegram)
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on July 11 that it had detained a foreign cargo vessel and its captain near Odesa, who helped Russia to ship out Ukrainian grain from occupied Crimea.
The ship, sailing under a flag of an unspecified central African country, "carried out Russia's orders" and has transported "looted agricultural products" from Sevastopol to the Middle East in 2023-2024, the SBU said.
Only by mid-2023, Russia is believed to have stolen up to 6 million metric tons of grain harvested in occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to the SBU, the detained captain regularly turned off the vessel's GPS tracker and logged falsified data to hide his activities.
The detainee is a citizen of an unspecified South Caucasian country, and his crew included 12 other foreigners. The vessel has been towed to Odesa while the investigation is ongoing.
Ukraine is one of the world's leading agricultural producers, traditionally supplying countries across Africa and Asia with grain, sunflower seeds, and other products.
Throughout the full-scale war, Russia sought to curb Ukraine's ability to ship out its grain and replace Ukrainian products in global markets with their own production, as well as with grain looted from occupied territories.
Despite Russia's attempts at blockading the Black Sea, Ukraine has managed to reopen a trade corridor, reviving its maritime exports.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Abbey Fenbert
