Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 05-13-2024

As opposed to rumors that started at the end of April, Ukraine actually eased certain restrictions introduced in 2022 and submitted the updates as a formality.

At the end of April, rumors began circulating in Ukraine that the government submitted an application to the Council of Europe for the partial suspension of some clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Apart from Telegram channels, some news outlets also reported on the update, claiming that certain rights – including the right to property and freedom of movement – were to be restricted based on the document submitted.

SBU says its operators apprehended agents of the Russian GRU who were in the process of planting explosive devices in crowded areas in Ukraine’s capital on May 9.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said they caught terrorists in the act as they were planting explosives in four separate attacks in Kyiv on May 9.

The terrorists are said to be affiliated with Russia’s Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU). They were seized in the act of planting explosive devices within construction materials in a prominent hypermarket chain and close to a café, the SBU told Kyiv Post.

The supreme bishops of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine held a synod in which the Russian Church’s doctrine and Putin’s actions were judged anathema to the teachings of Christ.

The Orthodox Church of Ukrainian (OCU) officially deemed the so-called “Russky mir” (Russian world) doctrine as a false religious teaching and essentially heretical, at a synod of bishops held on May 11.

The Holy Synod resolution stated: “The Orthodox Church of Ukraine rejects and condemns the doctrine of the ‘Russian world’ as based on the heretical principles of ethnophyletism [holding nation or tribe above God], Manichaeism and Gnosticism.”

ASTRA reports on Telegram, citing its own sources, that the commander of a Russian military unit sited on Mount Ai-Petri in occupied Crimea was killed in a missile attack on Monday, May 13.

At around 6 a.m. on the morning of Monday, May 13, several missiles, suspected to be Anglo-French Storm Shadow / SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, attacked Russian military unit 85683 on Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea. Astra Telegram reports, citing local emergency services, that facilities were damaged, the commander of the unit, Oleksandr Kulakov, and another soldier were killed, while an unknown number of other servicemen were wounded.

The mountain is home to a “secret” air defense base of the 3rd Radio Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces.

An Update on the Two Races.

Two weeks ago, I wrote that Russians were trying to advance before ammunition got to Ukraine.

It was an attempt to outline what we would see in the coming weeks – after the approval of additional US aid for Ukraine. As I tried to get across in that update, with US aid flowing once again, the battlefield dynamics would change on the front line – once that aid arrived.

Russia’s defense ministry is now under the command of a career bureaucrat and economist with no military background – but for Putin, he might be the right man for the job.

Russia’s defense ministry is now under the command of Andrey Belousov, yet another official with no military background after the former minister Sergei Shoigu was moved to the sidelines in one of the Kremlin’s latest shakeups.

Who is Andrey Belousov?

Germany is the EU country that has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees, about a third of the total. However, only about 18% were employed in January 2024, one of the lowest rates in the OECD.

More Ukrainian refugees in Germany should take up work, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said over the weekend, promising that this would secure their right to stay as fewer than two in 10 are currently employed.

Germany is the EU country that has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees, about a third of the total, or 1,300,000 people. However, according to the Polish Economic Institute, only about 18% were employed in January 2024, one of the lowest rates in the OECD.

Social media users throughout Putin’s realm puzzled over Kremlin lateral shifts, second-guessing the pick of an economist to run its “special military operation.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is shaking up his inner group of lieutenants just days into his newest term as the Kremlin’s leader, which has many Russians voicing some doubts about his choices for the shuffle of personnel, mostly related to their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Sunday, May 12, Putin replaced Sergei Shoigu with Andreу Belousov as Russia’s defense minister. Putin kept Shoigu in his administration, thransferring Shoigu to the post of Security Council secretary to replace Nikolay Patrushev.

Kyiv suspects this is a diversionary manoeuvre aimed at drawing Ukrainian troops away from the front in areas further to the east. The media discuss what the attacks mean.

Russia launched an offensive against the border region of Kharkiv in north eastern Ukraine on Friday night. Around 4,000 people were evacuated. Kyiv suspects this is a diversionary manoeuvre aimed at drawing Ukrainian troops away from the front in areas further to the east. The media discuss what the attacks mean.

The city is safe for now

Video evidence and geography argue a lot more for the Russian Air Force dropping a bomb by accident.

Kremlin claims a Ukrainian long-range weapon was responsible for a lethal explosion hitting an apartment building in Belgorod appear to lack substantial evidence to back it up, and chances are much higher it was a Russian weapon that did the damage, Kyiv Post fact checks into the Sunday incident found.

The governor of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov told local reporters that a Ukrainian projectile struck a 10-story building in the Kharkovskaya Gora district of Belgorod city.

The men were charged with treason and espionage after sharing information on the location and movements of Russian army units that helped the Ukrainian army target aerial strikes.

A Russian court on the annexed peninsula of Crimea has handed down prison sentences of up to 16 years to five Ukrainian citizens accused of sharing military intelligence with Kyiv, state media reported Monday.

The men were charged with treason and espionage after sharing information on the location and movements of Russian army units that helped the Ukrainian army target aerial strikes, the FSB security service alleged.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister Sergei Shoigu with a civilian, Andrey Belousov, citing the country’s rising military spending and the need for “innovation.” Shoigu had been “relieved” of his post of Minister of Defense by presidential decree and been appointed Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday night local time. Shoigu would also become Putin’s deputy in Russia’s Military-Industrial Commission, Peskov said, while Nikolai Patrushev, the previous Secretary of the Security Council, would “transfer to another job.” Belousov, who previously served as first deputy prime minister, is a civilian. He was selected by Putin because of a need for “innovation,” Peskov said in a press call, during which he highlighted the ministry’s rising budget, saying it was approaching levels last seen during the Cold War. - CNN

Ukraine is shooting down a far smaller proportion of Russian missile attacks than it was earlier in the war. The worsening performance of Ukraine’s air defenses comes as Russia increases drone and missile attacks, and fires more harder-to-hit weapons, such as ballistic missiles. Kyiv is also running low on ammunition for the Western-supplied Patriot systems that have been its best defense against such attacks. The Wall Street Journal reports that, over the past six months, Kyiv has only managed to intercept only 46% of incoming compared to 73% of incoming from Russia compared to the previous six months

After more than two years of sanctions, technicians from Russia’s S7 airline say they can now repair some key components of the aircraft engines on their Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Sanctions imposed by the US and EU after Russia’s full-scale invasion have deprived its aviation industry of the support provided by foreign aircraft engine manufacturers needed to keep their aircraft flying safely. Carriers had almost no opportunity to export equipment abroad for overhaul and manufacturers were prevented from doing the work in Russia. This forced them to try to purchase used engines from abroad to replace their unserviceable equipment.

That route has now also been closed off, not as one would assume by increased sanctions, but because of a worldwide shortage of the types of engines involved.

Russia has occupied several more border villages as “a consequence of the tacit Western policy” that Ukrainian forces cannot use Western systems to strike military targets in Russia.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) reported ongoing battles for the border town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, with Russia achieving tactical success.

“The enemy deployed significant forces, up to five battalions, in the attack on the town and is disregarding its losses,” the report stated.

The reports that began circulating on the internet on Friday might simply be a technical error from flight trackers due to the prevalence of electronic warfare (EW) interference in operation.

Reports began circulating on the internet on Friday, May 10, that a Turkish airliner – flying from Moscow to Antalya in Turkey – entered the Kharkiv airspace in Ukraine before flying over Bakhmut, a city that saw one of the most intense hostilities in the war in Ukraine.

There was also a screenshot attached to the reports, where the plane could be seen on Flight Radar 24, an online flight tracker, with the flight number and time clearly visible.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that, as of May 13, Russia has lost a total of 325 helicopters since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s 47th separate mechanized brigade reported that it shot down a multi-million-dollar Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter on Monday, May 13.

“Thanks to the fighters of the anti-aircraft missile and artillery division for their work,” the brigade wrote on the Telegram app.

The world’s media saw the removal of Sergei Shoigu as Russia’s Defense Minister as a punishment for his failure in Ukraine but if viewed in the round it is part of Putin’s plans to cement his power.

The apparent sacking of longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu by President Vladimir Putin was immediately seized on by the Western media as evidence that he was being punished for the so far failed “special military option.” Viewed as part of the wider shakeup of the upper echelons within Russia’s defense and security apparatus, however, it doesn’t seem that simple.

Putin has proposed appointing Andrey Belousov as Russia’s new defense minister. He is an economist who previously served as minister of economic development, Russian presidential aide for economic issues and the first deputy prime minister with responsibility for economic issues.

Krzysztof Gawkowski, Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs, and leader of The Left political alliance met with his Ukrainian counterpart and offers his views to Kyiv Post.

MK: Recently, you’ve returned from Kyiv where you held a meeting with your counterpart, Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. In accordance with the declaration, Poland will transfer to Ukraine and cover the operating costs of 20,000 Starlink terminals. Additionally, the memorandum expanding the potential for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the digital sphere has been signed. Could you please give our readers more details of this cooperation?

Krzysztof Gawkowski: It was a very successful visit, during which I had highly productive meetings confirming that Poland is Ukraine’s strongest and most faithful partner in the fight against Russian aggression. I traveled to Kyiv to discuss Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the digital transformation sphere, resulting in the signing of a memorandum on further common work. We look forward to further deepening this collaboration, implementing the agreed-upon principles, and also plan to provide Ukraine with the mentioned Starlink terminals. Poland is currently the world’s largest provider of technology ensuring internet connectivity in Ukraine. This is noteworthy because these terminals provide crucial assistance to the Ukrainian military, hospitals, and the maintenance of civilian broadband internet connections.

SBU sources tell Kyiv Post it carried out successful drone attacks on the Oskolnaftosvetna oil depot in the Belgorod region and the Eletskaya substation in the Lipetsk region of Russia.

Overnight on 12 / 13 May, drones belonging to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) were actively operating in the Lipetsk and Belgorod regions of Russia, security sources told the Kyiv Post. As a result, a fire broke out at the Oskolnaftosvetna oil depot near the village of Stary Oskol in the Belgorod Oblast and at the Yelets 500 kV substation in the Lipetsk Oblast.

Local residents complained on social media about a series of loud explosions near the oil depot overnight.

Serbia remains a rare outlier in Europe for refusing to sanction the Kremlin following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba kicked off an official visit to Serbia on Monday, where he was set to meet with the Balkan country's leaders days after a high-profile visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska was also in the capital Belgrade, where she signed a new education agreement with a university in Serbia, according to a post on X.

The new MinDef Belousov, is a technocrat without Defense experience, but nevertheless a competent and trusted manager, the author writes.

Interesting reports from the State News Agency, TASS, of Russian Minister of Defense Shoigu moving to replace the long-time National Security Advisor Nikolai Patrushev. Lots of potential implications. Initial thoughts…

If Patrushev doesn’t become the Prime Minister, the only arguable promotion, he will retire. Although Patrushev is old, he has at times been considered an alternative or successor to Putin, especially in a crisis/ palace coup scenario. Patrushev is a dangerous hawk.

December 2023 to January 2024 – Russian attacks civilian targets mostly on border and frontline hamlets in southern and eastern Ukraine. Mass missile attacks sporadic, maybe due to Moscow shortages.

Please find the previous parts of the digest below:

February to March 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday moved to replace defence minister Sergei Shoigu in a major shake-up to Russia's military leadership more than two years into its Ukraine offensive.

In 2023, late Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin began a very public feud against the higher echelons of the Russian military over the conduct of the war.

Prigozhin, who later led a short-lived mutiny and died in a mysterious plane accident, accused Shoigu in particular of being a "dirtbag" and "elderly clown" in furious audio messages that went viral in Russia.

The bill has sparked weeks of demonstrations in the small Caucasus country. Protesters fear that if passed, the legislation will jeopardize Georgia's longstanding goal of joining the EU.

Thousands of Georgians gathered outside parliament in Tbilisi on Sunday night, May 12, to protest against a proposed "foreign agent" bill, reminiscent of Russian legislation, aimed at NGOs. Despite government warnings of potential arrests, the demonstration continued.

The bill has sparked weeks of demonstrations in the small Caucasus country. Protesters fear that if passed, the legislation will jeopardize Georgia's longstanding goal of joining the EU.

The Ukrainian army's top commander said that although the situation was "complicated", his forces were managing to hold back further Russian advances.

Russia said Sunday, May 12, it had captured four more villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as thousands of residents were evacuated from the offensive in an area where Russian troops were repelled in 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said "fierce fighting" was under way and governor Oleg Synegubov said "all areas" of the regional border with Russia were now "under enemy fire almost around the clock".

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced Sergei Shoigu with Andrei Belousov as Russian Minister of Defense on May 12, moving Shoigu to the position of Security Council Secretary in place of Nikolai Patrushev. These high-level reshuffles following the Russian presidential election strongly suggest that Putin is taking significant steps towards mobilizing the Russian economy and defense industrial base (DIB) to support a protracted war in Ukraine and possibly prepare for a future confrontation with NATO.
• Belousov's nearly decade-long tenure as an economic minister in the Russian federal government and his more recent involvement managing various domestic DIB innovation and drone projects, prepare him well to lead the struggling Russian MoD apparatus.
• Shoigu's replacement of Patrushev as Security Council Secretary is in line with Putin's general pattern of quietly sidelining high-level security officials by granting them peripheral roles within the Russian security sphere rather than simply firing them.
• Russian offensive efforts to seize Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv City) are in large part a consequence of the tacit Western policy that Ukrainian forces cannot use Western-provided systems to strike legitimate military targets within Russia.
• Ukrainian forces continue to conduct repeat strikes on Russian oil and defense industrial infrastructure, prompting Russian milbloggers to complain about Russian forces' clear and continued inability to defend against these strikes.
• Several German politicians from different political parties expressed support for using NATO air defense systems stationed in NATO member states to shoot down Russian drones over western Ukraine.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Lyptsi and Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv Oblast.
• Former Roscosmos (Russian space agency) head and ultranationalist figure Dmitry Rogozin highlighted Russian forces' continued difficulty repelling Ukrainian drones on the frontline.