On the 444th day of the Russian-launched offensive, Ukraine continues to support attacks by Russian forces, and in anticipation of spring’s major counter-offensive in Kiev, Moscow admitted on Friday that its forces had withdrawn north of the city of Bakhmout. Evgueni Prigojine, the founder of the Wagner militia, accuses the regular forces of defeat; Russian forces have likely withdrawn from their positions on the southern flank of operations in a widely scattered order over the past four days, reflecting the “serious lack of credible combat units,” the UK MoD assessed. Defense in its daily Punkt, this Saturday. Ukrainian forces recaptured at least 1 km of front line.
The Ukrainian army said in a daily update that Russia is concentrating its forces near Lyman, Bakhmout, Avdiivka and Marinka.
Controversial advances in Bakhmout. However, Kiev’s armed forces ensure that “the defense operation continues towards” this city, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. “Our soldiers are advancing in some areas of the (Bahmut) front and the enemy is losing equipment and troops,” Ukrainian ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrsky told Telegram. A few hours later, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that “assault units had liberated a neighborhood in the north-western part of the city of Artemovsk,” which is the Russian name for Bakhmout.
Nocturnal drone strikes. In the night from Friday to Saturday, according to the Ukrainians, Russia launched 21 attack drones on the territory of Ukraine. 17 were destroyed by anti-aircraft defenses, including those aimed at the capital Kiev, and debris from Iranian-made Shahed drones and an operational-tactical Orlan-10 drone were identified. Four drones that failed to be shot down caused damage in the Khmelnitsky region. In addition to the damage to so-called “critical” infrastructure, eleven people were injured in the ensuing fire. In Mykolayiv, the Russians bombed a kindergarten, a bakery and two buildings. Fires broke out, injuring three people.
Moscow accuses Kiev of using British missiles on civilian targets. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed in the House of Commons on Thursday that long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles would be sent to Kiev. However, he did not provide any information as to whether the weapons had already been shipped or were still being shipped. This Saturday afternoon, the Russian Defense Minister accused Kiev: “Storm Shadow air-to-air missiles supplied by the UK to the Kiev regime were used in an attack on “civilian targets” in the city of Lugansk on Friday, causing “wounded people, including six Children”.
Zelenskyi in Rome. The Ukrainian President arrived in Rome, Italy, for the first time since the war began to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose support has not waned since his election. Upon his arrival in Rome, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed what was only one possibility: an interview with Pope Francis. The sovereign Pope has been wanting to talk about peace with Russia and Ukraine for months. Returning from a trip to Hungary on April 30, François told journalists that “a mission is underway, but it’s not public yet.” Let’s see how… When it’s public, I’ll talk about it “, he said. Kyiv had denied.
Today in Rome. I am meeting with the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the Italian Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni and the pope @Pontifex. An important visit in view of the upcoming victory of Ukraine! 🇮🇹🤝🇺🇦🤝🇻🇦
— Volodimir Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) May 13, 2023
The Ukrainian President is expected in Germany on Sunday.
New German help. The federal government announced on Saturday morning that it would draw up a new €2.7 billion military aid plan for Ukraine, which would include the delivery of numerous tanks, armored vehicles, drones and anti-aircraft systems. “We all want a quick end to this cruel war of Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately it is not in sight. “Therefore, Germany will provide every conceivable help for as long as necessary,” said the defense minister in a press release. This aid “dooms” Russia to “lose,” said Mykhaïlo Podoliak, adviser to the Ukrainian presidency. The announcement comes on the eve of a possible visit to Germany by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Rome on Saturday morning.
States announce major defense aid packages for Ukraine. They do it demonstratively. The last example is the German package of 2.7 billion euros. This directly indicates that…
– the war would be brought to a proper end;
– The Russian Federation will inevitably lose and be left with the ….— Mikhail Podoliak (@Podolyak_M) May 13, 2023
A spy balloon in Poland? An unknown object entered Polish airspace from Belarus, a vassal state of Russia. The Ministry of Defense announced on Twitter on Saturday that it was probably an observation balloon. Poland, a NATO member and Ukraine’s neighbor, is watching its airspace like milk on fire. In November and December, rockets accidentally landed on its territory. Radar contact with the balloon “was lost near Rypin,” a town in northern Poland. The object is searched for.
South Africa denies arms sales to Russia. The United States has accused Pretoria of not respecting South Africa’s neutrality in the conflict: Late last year, a sanctioned Russian ship reportedly recovered weapons from a naval base near Cape Town. On Friday, an arms control minister and a foreign ministry spokesman said South Africa did not authorize any arms sales to Russia in December, “neither sanctioned nor approved,” Mondli Gungubele said. However, he did not say whether the shipment left South Africa at all.
A Chinese envoy in Moscow and Kyiv. Western countries, including France, have long hoped China would put pressure on its Russian ally, but Beijing had settled for vague statements and a quickly swept-off 12-point peace plan. For the first time, a senior Chinese ambassador will travel to Europe to discuss “a political solution to the Ukraine crisis.” Li Hui, special envoy for Eurasian affairs, is expected in Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia next week. 70-year-old Li Hui was ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019. His arrival was announced during a phone call in late April between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the first since the conflict began.