⚡️ Russia to increase taxes on struggling energy giant Gazprom this year.
Russia will increase taxes on its national energy giant Gazprom despite the company suffering record losses, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) wrote in its daily update on May 12.
Russia will increase taxes on its national energy giant Gazprom despite the company suffering record losses, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) wrote in its daily update on May 12.
⚡️Zelensky: Situation in Kharkiv Oblast is 'difficult' as Russian troops advance.
Russian troops are trying to "gain a foothold" in some villages in Kharkiv Oblast, and heavy fighting is ongoing in the region, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on May 12.
Zelensky said the situation is "extremely difficult" on the outskirts of Vovchansk, a town in Kharkiv Oblast close to the Russian border.
Russian troops are trying to "gain a foothold" in some villages in Kharkiv Oblast, and heavy fighting is ongoing in the region, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on May 12.
Zelensky said the situation is "extremely difficult" on the outskirts of Vovchansk, a town in Kharkiv Oblast close to the Russian border.
⚡️Putin proposes firing Shoigu, appointing new defense minister.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on May 12 proposed firing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and nominated Andrei Belousov to replace him, according to the Telegram channel of the Federation Council, the Russian parliament's upper house.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on May 12 proposed firing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and nominated Andrei Belousov to replace him, according to the Telegram channel of the Federation Council, the Russian parliament's upper house.
⚡️Putin appoints Shoigu as secretary of Russia's security council.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on May 12 appointed ex-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as the secretary of Russia's security council, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Shoigu is replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who has been the council's secretary since 2008.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on May 12 appointed ex-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as the secretary of Russia's security council, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Shoigu is replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who has been the council's secretary since 2008.
Civilians flee Vovchansk under Russian bombardment as ground offensive on Kharkiv begins
Vovchansk is ground zero of Russia’s new offensive into Kharkiv Oblast, the first time a serious push has been made to take territory across the border since the area was liberated from Russian occupation in Ukraine’s lightning counteroffensive in September 2022.
The Kyiv Independent visited Vovchansk on May 11, one day after the first incursions were made into Ukrainian territory in two sectors of the border.
Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent
Vovchansk is ground zero of Russia’s new offensive into Kharkiv Oblast, the first time a serious push has been made to take territory across the border since the area was liberated from Russian occupation in Ukraine’s lightning counteroffensive in September 2022.
The Kyiv Independent visited Vovchansk on May 11, one day after the first incursions were made into Ukrainian territory in two sectors of the border.
Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent
⚡️Putin's spokesman: Belousov appointed defense minister to integrate military-industrial complex into economy.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 12 that Putin had decided to appoint Andrei Belousov as defense minister since the “ministry should be open to innovation and progressive ideas.”
He went on to praise Belousov's performance as economy minister and cited this as a reason for his appointment. Commenting on Belousov's tasks, he said that Russia's defense and security budget had risen from 3% to 6.7% of the GDP, and it's important for the Kremlin "to integrate the military-industrial complex into the country's economy."
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 12 that Putin had decided to appoint Andrei Belousov as defense minister since the “ministry should be open to innovation and progressive ideas.”
He went on to praise Belousov's performance as economy minister and cited this as a reason for his appointment. Commenting on Belousov's tasks, he said that Russia's defense and security budget had risen from 3% to 6.7% of the GDP, and it's important for the Kremlin "to integrate the military-industrial complex into the country's economy."
⚡️Update: Death toll in Belgorod apartment building collapse rises to 12.
At least 12 people were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod after an apartment building collapsed on May 12, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry claimed.
According to the Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a part of a 10-story apartment building collapsed there earlier in the day. Gladkov also claimed that the building was hit by a Ukrainian projectile during an air raid alert in the oblast.
At least 12 people were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod after an apartment building collapsed on May 12, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry claimed.
According to the Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a part of a 10-story apartment building collapsed there earlier in the day. Gladkov also claimed that the building was hit by a Ukrainian projectile during an air raid alert in the oblast.
⚡️Media: Russia's new defense minister supports boosting military spending.
Russia's new defense minister, Andrei Belousov, started his career as a protégé of former Economy Minister German Gref, a free-market liberal, and served as a deputy economy minister in 2006-2008.
Belousov was Russia's economy minister in 2012-2013, an aide to Putin in 2013-2020, and first deputy prime minister in 2020-2024. He is considered a supporter of boosting military spending and mobilizing the country's economy for the war effort, according to Russian independent publication Verstka.
Russia's new defense minister, Andrei Belousov, started his career as a protégé of former Economy Minister German Gref, a free-market liberal, and served as a deputy economy minister in 2006-2008.
Belousov was Russia's economy minister in 2012-2013, an aide to Putin in 2013-2020, and first deputy prime minister in 2020-2024. He is considered a supporter of boosting military spending and mobilizing the country's economy for the war effort, according to Russian independent publication Verstka.
⚡️Blinken: No doubt there has been ‘cost in months-long delay’ of aid for Ukraine.
Without a doubt, there has been a cost in the "months-long delay in getting the supplementary budget request approved and the equipment sent out to Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News on May 12.
Despite setbacks, Blinken also said he believes Ukraine can "hold the line in the east," as Russian troops launched a new offensive operation targeting Kharkiv Oblast earlier on May 10.
Without a doubt, there has been a cost in the "months-long delay in getting the supplementary budget request approved and the equipment sent out to Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News on May 12.
Despite setbacks, Blinken also said he believes Ukraine can "hold the line in the east," as Russian troops launched a new offensive operation targeting Kharkiv Oblast earlier on May 10.
⚡️Multiple explosions heard in Donetsk Oblast.
A series of loud explosions were heard in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast around 1 a.m. local time, according to a Kyiv Independent reporter on the ground.
Ukraine's Air Force had previously warned of the threat of ballistic missile attacks.
A series of loud explosions were heard in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast around 1 a.m. local time, according to a Kyiv Independent reporter on the ground.
Ukraine's Air Force had previously warned of the threat of ballistic missile attacks.
⚡️General Staff: Battle for Vovchansk ongoing, Russia achieving 'tactical success.'
Fighting is ongoing for Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, as Ukrainian troops are attempting to fend off Russia's attempt to capture the city, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 13.
"At the moment, the enemy has tactical success" in the fight for Vovchansk, the General Staff said in a statement on social media.
Ukraine's General Staff said it is mounting a defensive operation to halt Russian advances that have breached Ukraine's defenses. Additional reserves are being deployed to the area in order to "stabilize the situation."
Fighting is ongoing for Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, as Ukrainian troops are attempting to fend off Russia's attempt to capture the city, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 13.
"At the moment, the enemy has tactical success" in the fight for Vovchansk, the General Staff said in a statement on social media.
Ukraine's General Staff said it is mounting a defensive operation to halt Russian advances that have breached Ukraine's defenses. Additional reserves are being deployed to the area in order to "stabilize the situation."
⚡️South Korean intelligence: North Korea suspected of supplying Russia with weapons made in 1970s.
South Korea's intelligence service is conducting a review into suspicions that North Korea has provided Russia with artillery shells and other weaponry manufactured in the 1970s, the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on May 12.
"The NIS is analyzing the relevant circumstance in detail and also continues to track overall military cooperation between North Korea and Russia," the intelligence agency said, amid concern that North Korea is procuring older weapons to develop new ones.
South Korea's intelligence service is conducting a review into suspicions that North Korea has provided Russia with artillery shells and other weaponry manufactured in the 1970s, the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on May 12.
"The NIS is analyzing the relevant circumstance in detail and also continues to track overall military cooperation between North Korea and Russia," the intelligence agency said, amid concern that North Korea is procuring older weapons to develop new ones.
⚡️1 killed, 2 injured in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast.
In the village of Krasnopillia, one person was killed and another two were injured as a result of Russian artillery shelling on May 12.
In the village of Krasnopillia, one person was killed and another two were injured as a result of Russian artillery shelling on May 12.
⚡️Lithuanian presidential election to go to runoff, incumbent president ahead.
Lithuania's presidential election is set to go to a runoff later this month as no candidate gained a majority of the votes on May 12, in a race that has heavily focused on the country's role as a NATO neighbor of Russia.
Incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda placed first in the initial round of voting with 44.2 percent of the vote, finishing well ahead of his competitor incumbent Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte at 19.7 percent.
Lithuania's presidential election is set to go to a runoff later this month as no candidate gained a majority of the votes on May 12, in a race that has heavily focused on the country's role as a NATO neighbor of Russia.
Incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda placed first in the initial round of voting with 44.2 percent of the vote, finishing well ahead of his competitor incumbent Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte at 19.7 percent.
⚡️Update: Death toll in Belgorod apartment building collapse rises to 15.
Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry claims that the death toll has risen to at least 15 people killed after an apartment building collapsed on May 12 in the Russian city of Belgorod.
Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry claims that the death toll has risen to at least 15 people killed after an apartment building collapsed on May 12 in the Russian city of Belgorod.
⚡️Protests continue overnight in Tbilisi ahead of final vote on foreign agents bill.
Thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Tbilisi overnight on May 12 ahead of the final reading of the controversial "foreign agents law" in Georgia's parliament on May 13.
Thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Tbilisi overnight on May 12 ahead of the final reading of the controversial "foreign agents law" in Georgia's parliament on May 13.
⚡Over 5,000 civilians evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast.
5,762 civilians in Kharkiv Oblast have been evacuated from their homes amid heavy fighting in the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 13.
5,762 civilians in Kharkiv Oblast have been evacuated from their homes amid heavy fighting in the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 13.
⚡Russian governor claims fire at substation in Lipetsk Oblast after overnight drone attack.
Russia claimed to have shot down a total of 31 drones, including four over Lipetsk Oblast. Another 12 drones were destroyed over Belgorod Oblast, eight over Kursk Oblast, and seven over occupied Crimea, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russia claimed to have shot down a total of 31 drones, including four over Lipetsk Oblast. Another 12 drones were destroyed over Belgorod Oblast, eight over Kursk Oblast, and seven over occupied Crimea, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
⚡Military intelligence identifies Russian soldiers behind cruise missile strikes.
Ukraine has identified Russian Air Force personnel responsible for carrying out cruise missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) announced on May 13.
Ukraine has identified Russian Air Force personnel responsible for carrying out cruise missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) announced on May 13.
⚡Parliamentary committee takes just 1 minute to assess Georgia's foreign agents law.
The Legal Committee of Georgia's Parliament took just 67 seconds to assess and vote on the controversial foreign agents law, while most opposition MPs could not join the session, Georgian news outlet Civil Georgia reported on May 13.
The Legal Committee of Georgia's Parliament took just 67 seconds to assess and vote on the controversial foreign agents law, while most opposition MPs could not join the session, Georgian news outlet Civil Georgia reported on May 13.