On day 1175 of the war, Russia continued to attack Ukraine, following the expiration of the deadline given to Kyiv until May 12 for a ceasefire. However, last night, the Russian army launched only 10 drones, all of which were destroyed in four regions.
The Russians also attacked with guided bombs in the Sumy region in the northeast of the country.
While the aerial attacks were at a low level, Russian ground forces made progress on the ground, advancing in the city of Toretsk and near some localities in the Pokrovsk sector in the Donetsk region.
On the other hand, Ukrainian soldiers captured a Uzbek citizen who was fighting for Russia on the Liman front and destroyed with drones a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system worth $45 million, as well as a multiple launch rocket system.
Diplomatically, we are approaching the day of possible direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. But nothing is certain: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will not meet with any other Russian official except Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the Kremlin maintains its evasive position.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who offered to host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, said that the "window of opportunity" that has recently opened "will not be missed."
For now, Zelensky has dismissed a deputy of the Ukrainian Minister of Defense amid a scandal related to the management of military acquisitions.
Frontline Situation
- Russia launched only 10 drones - Russia continued to attack Ukraine during the night after the May 12 deadline offered to Kyiv for a ceasefire. The Russian army launched only 10 drones, all of which were destroyed, announced the Ukrainian Air Force. The attack targeted the regions of Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, and Odesa. Moscow's troops also launched guided bombs in the Sumy region in the northeast, reports Kyiv Independent.
- Attacks in Nikopol and Zaporizhia - Russians attacked the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets, as well as two villages in the Nikopol district, Dnipropetrovsk region, using Grad multiple rocket launch systems, artillery, and drones, reports Ukrainska Pravda. A house was set on fire, but no casualties were reported, said Serhii Lisak, head of the regional military administration. In the Zaporizhia region, a Russian drone attacked a car driven by a 72-year-old man. He was injured, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.
- Russians advance - Russian troops have advanced in the city of Toretsk and near some localities in the Pokrovsk sector in the Donetsk region, announced the DeepState military analysis group closely associated with the Ukrainian army on Tuesday morning. According to the updated map of hostilities, Russian troops have partially advanced in Toretsk and near the settlements of Romanivka and Novoolenivka in the Pokrovsk sector. The General Staff of the Ukrainian army reported that in the last 24 hours, there have been 133 armed confrontations along the entire front line, with 50 in the Pokrovsk sector.
- Ukrainians capture an Uzbek - A citizen of Uzbekistan who took part in the offensive against Ukrainian forces was captured by soldiers from Battalion 106 of the 63rd Steel Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Liman front, reports Ukrainska Pravda. The prisoner, named Umit, said that he agreed to go to the front in exchange for Russian citizenship promised after a year of service and a cash reward of 2 million rubles (approximately $24,875). He claimed he had no prior military experience and did not serve in the army. After recruitment, he was sent to attack Ukrainian positions, and during a battle, he got lost, was hit, lost his bearings, and ended up on Ukrainian army positions, where he was captured. "I was a fool. I didn't think it would be like this. I thought I would serve in the army and come back. But this is not the army; here you have to kill people. I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to destroy a country," said the Uzbek.
- Russian missile system destroyed by drones - Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) used drones to destroy a Russian Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system and a Uragan-1 multiple launch rocket system. During a special reconnaissance mission in one of the operational zones, Ukrainian military detected a Buk-M3 and an Uragan-1. "After quick preparation, the troops launched attack drones and precisely hit the targets. The Buk-M3 system, estimated at $45 million, was completely destroyed along with its ammunition," announced the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian army. The Buk-M3 is a key component of Russia's air defense, used to target objects in the air, on land, and at sea.
Peace Negotiations
- Zelensky heads to Turkey - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Turkey this week to negotiate "everything that can contribute to a fair and lasting peace," his chief of staff said, according to Politico. "So far, we have not received a response or confirmation that President Putin will be in Turkey. But President Zelensky is ready and will go," said Yermak on Tuesday during a discussion at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. The Ukrainian president's chief advisor emphasized that if Putin refuses to come to Turkey, it will be the "final signal" that Russia "does not want to end the war and is not ready for any negotiations."
- Meeting only with Putin - Volodymyr Zelensky will not meet with any other Russian official except Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, said presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak on Tuesday, explaining that discussions with lower-level representatives would be futile. According to the advisor, even high-ranking Russian officials, such as ministers, cannot make fundamental decisions regarding ending the war. "That is, only Putin can make the decision to continue or stop the war," Podoliak added, as cited by Kiev Independent. His comments come after the head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, said that Putin could "delegate technical and preparatory stages," but Ukraine understands "who is the boss in the end." Zelensky invited Putin to the peace talks in Turkey on May 15, which would mark their first meeting during the large-scale war. Moscow has expressed readiness to start direct talks with Kyiv this week but has not confirmed a possible meeting between the two leaders. The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky took place in 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Ukraine and Russia have not had direct peace talks since the failed negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.
- Putin remains silent - Russia will announce its representative for peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul once President Vladimir Putin "considers it necessary," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, as reported by Kyiv Independent. However, he also stated that "the Russian side continues to prepare for the talks in Istanbul."
- Germany calls on Russia for a "decisive step" for peace - Germany urged Russia on Tuesday to take a "decisive step" for peace in Ukraine, two days before possible Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. "Russia must take a decisive step forward and show its willingness to sit at the negotiating table. Ukraine has taken a big step forward, it is ready to start unconditional negotiations for a ceasefire and a peace agreement," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told journalists in Berlin. Kiev stated on Tuesday that Putin's absence in Istanbul would be the "ultimate signal" that Moscow does not want to stop the war.
- Trump offers to come as a mediator - Donald Trump has stated that he is considering participating in future peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, scheduled to take place on Thursday in Turkey. The announcement comes in the context of Trump's first foreign tour since returning to the White House, with a stop in the Middle East scheduled for this week. Details HERE.
- Erdogan's hope - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who offered to host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, expressed hope that the "window of opportunity" that opened over the weekend "will not be missed." Erdogan mentioned that he spoke on the phone Monday with Volodymyr Zelensky. Turkey is ready to host negotiations for a ceasefire and permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine, Erdogan told Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin during phone calls with the two leaders on Sunday, according to Reuters.
Other Relevant Information
- Zelensky dismisses military chief - Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the former deputy of the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, from his position. Havryliuk had resigned as the Deputy Minister of Defense on April 11 amid a scandal related to the ministry's defense procurement, as reported by Kyiv Independent. Zelensky signed a decree on Monday officially removing Havryliuk from the Supreme Commander's headquarters, the highest command and control body for all branches of Ukraine's defense and security apparatus. The Presidency did not provide details on the reasons for the dismissal. A source from the Ministry of Defense told Suspilne publication that the dismissal was linked to Havryliuk's decision to transfer around 1.8 billion dollars from the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) to a Polish intermediary company to purchase ammunition for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
- Poland accuses Russia of recruiting arsonists - Poland's Foreign Minister claims that his country has evidence that Russia recruited individuals on the Telegram messaging service to start the massive fire last year at a shopping center in Warsaw, as reported by BBC. Radek Sikorski stated that Moscow's actions are "completely unacceptable" and that a second Russian consulate in Poland was closed as a result. A Polish investigation concluded that the fire at the Marywilska shopping center was orchestrated by Moscow's intelligence services. "We have evidence that they ordered people living in Poland, ordered them on Telegram, and paid them to set fire to this huge shopping center. It was a miracle that no one was hurt, but this is completely unacceptable. We will take further decisions if these hybrid attacks continue," Sikorski declared. The Foreign Minister decided that Russia's presence in Poland must be "further reduced," and the Russian consulate in Krakow was closed in an attempt to make Moscow's "spying" on Poland more difficult. Russia has denied its involvement, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accusing Poland of "Russophobia."
- Meeting in Rome - Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, will host his counterparts from four other major European military powers - Germany, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom - on Friday to discuss coordinating support for Ukraine. In addition to Ukraine, the ministers will also discuss ways to strengthen European defense, the ministry stated in a press release. This is the fourth meeting of its kind, following those in Berlin (November 25), Warsaw (January 13), and Paris (March 12).