Ukraine’s counteroffensive around Kharkiv enters decisive phase, think tank says
Ukrainian forces have secured further gains north and east of the city of Kharkiv in the last 24 hours, according to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War.
The respected think tank says the counteroffensive could soon see Ukrainian forces push Russian forces out of the artillery range of Kharkiv.
“This Ukrainian operation is developing into a successful, broader counteroffensive—as opposed to the more localized counterattacks that Ukrainian forces have conducted throughout the war to secure key terrain and disrupt Russian offensive operations,” the Institute for the Study of War said in an update.
— Sam Meredith
Russia says it has destroyed U.S., European military equipment in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region
A man rides his bicycle next to a destroyed bridge in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on May 5, 2022.
Sergey Bobok | Afp | Getty Images
Russia’s Defense Ministry claims it has destroyed a large stockpile of military equipment from the U.S. and European countries in Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region, according to Reuters.
The ministry reportedly said 18 military facilities had been struck overnight, including three ammunition depots.
CNBC has not been able to independently verify these claims.
— Sam Meredith
Ukraine conflict ‘taking a heavy toll’ on Russia’s most capable units, UK’s Defence Ministry says
The Ukraine conflict is heavily affecting some of Russia’s most capable units, said the U.K.’s Defence Ministry in its daily intelligence update.
“The conflict in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll on some of Russia’s most capable units and most advanced capabilities,” the ministry said in its update, posted on Twitter.
“It will take considerable time and expense for Russia to reconstitute its armed forces following this conflict,” it added.
At least one T-90M, Russia’s most advanced tank, has been destroyed in fighting, the update said.
“It will be particularly challenging to replace modernised and advanced equipment due to sanctions restricting Russia’s access to critical microelectronic components,” the ministry added.
— Weizhen Tan
Russia must pull back forces to pre-invasion position before any peace deal can happen, Zelenskyy says
A woman holds a child next to Russian soldiers in a street of Mariupol on April 12, 2022, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, while Russia’s President makes a defiant case for the war on Russia’s neighbour. – *EDITOR’S NOTE: This picture was taken during a trip organized by the Russian military.*
Alexander Nemenov | AFP | Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told London think-tank Chatham House that any peace deal with Moscow would be dependent on Russian forces pulling back to their positions before the war, the BBC reported.
Zelenskyy said that was the minimum that Ukraine could accept, according to the report. He added that there could be no question of Russia holding on to territory it has taken since the invasion started.
“I was elected by the people of Ukraine as president of Ukraine, not as president of a mini Ukraine of some kind. This is a very important point,” he said, according to the BBC report.
— Weizhen Tan