As day 808 of the ongoing war approaches, significant developments have unfolded in various regions. Here is the latest update on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Fighting
In Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, a missile attack on a restaurant resulted in the death of three individuals and left eight wounded, according to Denis Pushilin, the head of the region’s Russian-backed administration. Additionally, two strikes were reported by US HIMARS precision rocket launchers.
Over the weekend, an attack by Ukraine on Russia’s Belgorod region led to the death of one woman, injuries to 29 individuals, and significant damage to numerous buildings, including a school and hospital, as stated by regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The city of Belgorod, the administrative center of the region, remains at risk of further attacks with air raid alerts issued.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the destruction of two Soviet-era conventional ballistic missiles launched by Ukrainian forces over Belgorod region.
Fierce fighting continued in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region as Moscow claimed the capture of five villages and advances in Donetsk. Kyiv, on the other hand, reported repelling the attacks and engaging in battles to gain control of the settlements.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged ongoing conflicts in border villages of Kharkiv and described the situation in Donetsk as extremely challenging. Over 4,000 people were evacuated from areas near the Russian border due to Moscow’s surprise ground offensive in the region.
Politics and diplomacy
Russian President Vladimir Putin assigned additional responsibilities to key government officials overseeing the defense industry and energy sectors in preparation for an extended conflict in Ukraine.
Ahead of the upcoming elections in Lithuania, both incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte vowed to resist Russian threats, with concerns rising among voters about potential Russian aggression in the Baltic state.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Ukrainians holding residence permits and working in Germany can stay, while Ukraine seeks to recruit nationals residing abroad to join the fight against Russia.