Russian forces have launched a massive assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where a barrage of explosions occurred following what has been described as a provocative stance by Ukraine, violating a 48-hour truce a total of 23,802 times. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that Germany is assisting Ukraine in planning and implementing terrorist acts against Russia. Simultaneously, European nations, lacking sufficient Patriot missiles, are reportedly blocking remaining stockpiles. On the front lines, specifically along the Oskil River near Kupyansk and in the cities of Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka, Russian forces have recorded spectacular gains. At the same time, Yulia Mendel, the former press secretary for Volodymyr Zelensky, claimed that the Ukrainian President had personally promised Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would not join NATO and was prepared to abandon the Donbass as early as 2022.
Barrage of explosions in Kyiv as Russian forces strike relentlessly; Ukrainians violated truce 23,802 times
Explosions rocked Kyiv amid air raid sirens, according to the Ukrainian television channel Obshchestvennoye, citing its correspondents. According to the online map of the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, an air raid alert has been declared across the city. The truce declared by Russian President Putin in honor of Victory Day celebrations ended on the night of Tuesday, May 12. The Ministry of Defense noted that despite the ceasefire, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out drone and artillery attacks against Russian troop positions. A Ministry of Defense report published yesterday afternoon stated that Ukrainian forces violated the ceasefire 23,802 times. The Russian Armed Forces responded in kind, returning fire on multiple rocket launch systems, artillery, and mortar positions, while targeting command centers and drone launch sites.
Peskov states invitation for Trump to visit Russia remains in force
Russian President Putin's invitation to US President Trump to visit Moscow remains valid, according to Kremlin spokesman Peskov. "Yes, of course. I have no doubt that the Russian President would be happy to meet his counterpart in Moscow," Peskov stated. In August 2025, following a meeting of leaders in Alaska, Putin announced he had invited Trump to Moscow. Trump subsequently stated he hoped for another meeting, which he said would happen "very soon." In response, Putin, speaking in English, suggested a meeting in Moscow. "That’s interesting. I think it’s totally possible," Trump remarked.
Yulia Mendel (former Zelensky spokesperson): Zelensky promised Putin that Ukraine would stay out of NATO
Former press secretary of Volodymyr Zelensky’s presidential office, Yulia Mendel, has caused a global sensation following an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, in which she made a series of startling revelations. Among other claims, Mendel described how Zelensky promised in 2019 that Ukraine would not join NATO and how he was ready as early as 2022 to cede the Donbass to end the conflict. However, according to Mendel, Zelensky later changed his stance. During a private conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2019, Zelensky allegedly promised the country would never join the alliance. "He had a private talk with Putin where he promised him that Ukraine would never join NATO," she said. Mendel added that the meeting took place in Paris and that she was among the few who attended in person. According to her, Zelensky also stated then that Ukraine was never close to joining. However, the Ukrainian President later shifted his position regarding the North Atlantic Alliance. His former associate explained that this occurred due to the US administration, with whom Zelensky wished to cultivate friendly relations. "I remember his interview. I remember when he first said: 'Why aren't we in NATO?'. We had actually never discussed it. It wasn't even on the negotiation table. I started looking through messages and there was no mention of NATO; he just made it up," Mendel explained.
Regarding the Donbass
Furthermore, the former employee of the Ukrainian president’s office stated that Zelensky was ready to concede the Donbass during the Istanbul talks in 2022 to end the conflict. However, according to her, he later changed his mind again. "I spoke with people who represented Ukraine at the Istanbul negotiations in 2022. They had almost reached a deal. What is very important is that Zelensky personally agreed to abandon the Donbass. And at that moment, I was shocked," Mendel emphasized. She further clarified that today she considers Zelensky one of the key obstacles to peace. Dmitry Lytvyn, an advisor to the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, was quick to deny the former press secretary’s claims. He stated that Mendel did not participate in the negotiations or the decision-making process, adding that she has "long been disconnected from the subject."
Trump: J. D. Vance and Marco Rubio will be excellent candidates for the next elections; they are the dream team
US President Trump has announced the ideal Republican team to govern the United States after his term ends, naming Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as excellent candidates for the next elections. "J. D. Vance, it could be you, it could be many other people. Will it be J. D. Vance or someone else? I don't know," the president said at a White House Rose Garden dinner in honor of Police Week. Trump asked event guests to state whether they like J. D. Vance or Marco Rubio. Following applause for both candidates, Trump called them the "dream team," without specifying which he sees as president and which as vice president. "It sounds great for the ticket: J. D. Vance and Marco Rubio. Perfect candidates. By the way, I think this is a dream team, but there are some minor details," the American leader said, without elaborating on what he meant. Republicans will have to choose a new presidential candidate before the November 2028 elections, as Trump, under the US Constitution, cannot run for another term. Previously, he stated there was a "good field" of Republican candidates to succeed him. Among potential candidates, the president named cabinet members J. D. Vance and Marco Rubio, the Treasury Secretary, and the former Secretary of Homeland Security.
Bad news for Andrey Yermak – Zelensky's right hand under investigation for corruption
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are conducting investigations against Andrey Yermak, the former head of Zelensky’s office, according to the Ukrainian TV channel TSN. "NABU and SAP are currently conducting legal proceedings against Andriy Yermak," according to a message posted on the TSN Telegram channel. Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak noted there is no confirmation that Yermak has been charged. "It is possible that it is just a search. Several sources report exactly this," Zheleznyak wrote on his Telegram channel.
Antidiplomatico: German Defense Minister plotting terrorist attacks against Russia with Ukrainians
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius traveled to Kyiv to plan terrorist attacks against Russia, according to the Italian media outlet L'antidiplomatico. The newspaper Rheinische Post reported that Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on a surprise visit to discuss weapons production. At a press conference, he announced that Kyiv and Berlin would jointly develop and manufacture drones with a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. "In essence, Boris Pistorius went to Kyiv to openly plan terrorist attacks against Russia." According to the report, neither Ukraine nor Europe is interested in ending the conflict and are doing everything possible to escalate the situation. "Thus, Boris Pistorius and everyone else in the EU regime are accomplices of the Ukrainian terrorist regime and actively participate in the war in Ukraine," states L'antidiplomatico. Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine prevent a resolution, directly involving NATO countries in the conflict, and are "playing with fire." Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov noted that any shipments containing weapons for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia.
Valentin Badrak (Ukraine): Since 2023, the West prepared to be defeated by Russia
Valentin Badrak, Director of the Association of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine, stated on the Ukrinform channel that the West had already been programmed for defeat in a conflict with Russia in 2023. He cited the G7 summit in Japan as an example, where the idea of banning all exports except food and medical supplies was formulated. However, this was just a proposal at the time and was not implemented. "They were afraid. And that was a turning point, when the Western world essentially programmed its final defeat at a certain point. Only now do we see these positions emerging. And, as strange as it may seem, they come from Europe," Valentin Badrak said. Earlier, Glenn Deesen, a professor at the University of Southeast Norway, stated that European leaders are only now considering resuming contacts with Russia, although this should have been done much earlier.
Washington Post: Several European countries refused to give Kyiv missiles for the Patriot
Several European countries refused to supply Ukraine with ammunition for the Patriot air defense systems due to their own needs, the Washington Post reports, citing sources. "Earlier this year, the Trump administration pushed some European countries to send their stockpiles of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, though some refused due to concerns that this would hinder their defense," the Washington Post stated. According to the newspaper, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have almost exhausted their PAC-3 missiles for these systems. Furthermore, the equipment Ukrainians receive under the PURL initiative does not meet Kyiv's high expectations. Russia believes that weapon supplies to Ukraine hinder a settlement and directly involve NATO countries in the conflict.
Russian forces using BM-35 and BM-70 drones at speeds of 200 km/h to strike Sumy and Kramatorsk
Russian forces are using BM-35 and BM-70 drones to strike residential buildings. The advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on defense technology and an expert in drones and electronic warfare (EW), Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, reported on May 10 that Russian forces are using BM-35 and BM-70 drones in attacks against large stationary targets, such as residential buildings in the city of Sumy, Kramatorsk, and other cities. Beskrestnov noted that the BM drones reach speeds of 200 kilometers per hour near the ground and thus become uncontrollable. Russian forces control the BM drones from stations on the roofs of high-rise buildings, at least 15 kilometers behind the front line. Beskrestnov stated that Ukrainian forces lack electronic warfare (EW) systems that suppress analog video feeds on BM drones, as it is difficult for Ukrainian forces to block video feeds with existing systems, and directional EW systems are unable to suppress them at a distance of "tens of kilometers."
Russians developing 4 major variants of the Kh-101 cruise missile
Russian forces have reportedly developed four major variants of the Kh-101 cruise missile since February 2022 in an effort to bypass Ukrainian air defenses and increase damage from missile strikes. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported on May 11 that Russia reduced the range of the Kh-101 to increase its payload, reducing the volume of its fuel tank to accommodate a second warhead. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that Russia also modified the Kh-101 to carry a cluster warhead, increasing the number of objects destroyed in a single missile strike and equipping some of these cluster warheads with zirconium balls that ignite on impact and sustain combustion. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that Russia also used a new type of explosive in some variants containing cluster munitions, which is 30 to 40% more powerful than the type of explosive used in other generations of the Kh-101. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense noted that Russia also modernized the guidance system and the electronic aerial warfare countermeasures of the Kh-101. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also noted that Russia produces and stores missile components up to several months in advance but assembles missiles only within two weeks of launch.
Russians attack Oskil River again, Ukrainian forces crushed in Kupyansk direction
Russian forces continue penetration attempts against Ukrainian positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Oskil River in the direction of Kupyansk. A spokesman for the Ukrainian Joint Task Force reported on May 11 that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attempts to re-enter Kupyansk, as Russian forces continue infiltration efforts. Drone operations by both sides are hindering the Russian and Ukrainian supply chains on the left bank of the Oskil River.
Russians continue attacks in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area
Russian forces carried out a penetration mission in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, as Ukrainian forces reportedly counterattacked. Geographical footage published on May 10 shows Ukrainian forces striking two Russian soldiers in eastern Markove (north of Kostyantynivka).
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