The day of the war at a glance
Finland aspires to NATO – Ukraine reports hit on Russian logistics ship
May 12, 2022, 9:12 p.m
The Finnish government has stated that its goal is “immediate” accession to NATO. Russia sees this as a threat. According to a report, there is a threat of a gas supply stop from Russia to Finland tomorrow, Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine reports an impact hit on another Russian ship that is said to have been on the way to the embattled Snake Island. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have killed hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed dozens of military vehicles within 24 hours. The 78th day of the war at a glance.
Finland wants to join NATO quickly
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin have called for their country to join NATO “immediately”. In a joint statement, the two endorsed membership in the western military alliance. The decision on the official application to join the military alliance is expected in the next few days. Sweden will probably follow suit. NATO has already made it clear that both countries are welcome. After the announcement, Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Finland of “the full support of the federal government” on the way to joining NATO.
The Russian leadership “definitely” viewed the membership sought by Finland as a threat to Russia. An expansion of the Western military alliance will not make Europe and the world more stable, spokesman for the Russian Presidential Office, Dmitry Peskov, told the press in a conference call.
Will Finland cut off Russian gas?
According to a newspaper, high-ranking Finnish politicians have been informed that Russia could cut off natural gas supplies on Friday after the move to NATO. The Iltalehti newspaper cites unnamed sources. It is true that most of the natural gas consumed in Finland comes from the neighboring country. However, gas only contributes five percent to the Finnish energy mix.
Ukraine: “Bobrow” set ablaze by shelling
According to Ukrainian information, another Russian ship has been hit by Ukrainian fire in the war zone. Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the military headquarters in Odessa, said the Vsevolod Bobrov caught fire. There is even talk of the sinking of the ship on social media. The information has not yet been verified. The “Vsevolod Bobrow” is a logistics ship. It belongs to the Elbrus class, which was first launched in 2015. The “Vsevolod Bobrow” is said to have left the keel in August 2021 after a long delay in construction. She was said to be on her way to Snake Island. According to unconfirmed information, it is said to have anti-aircraft guns on board, among other things. The Russians occupy Snake Island early after the invasion. However, in recent days there have been numerous drone attacks by Ukraine on the island. Both guns and at least one landing craft and a helicopter of the Russian armed forces were destroyed. However, since the island is strategically very important for controlling the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the Russians do not want to give it up.
Russia reports killing of more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers
According to their own statements, the Russian armed forces have killed hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed numerous military vehicles with heavy air and missile attacks in the past 24 hours. “More than 320 nationalists were killed and 72 military vehicles disabled with air-to-surface missiles,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said today. The information was initially not verifiable by an independent party.
Meanwhile, rocket forces and artillery fired on more than 400 troop formations and military convoys, 12 command posts and 26 enemy artillery positions. In the Korotych area, just a few kilometers west of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov, an S-300 air defense system was said to have been switched off.
British: Russia’s focus on Donbass weakens own troops at Kharkiv
According to British intelligence, Ukraine’s counter-offensive north of Kharkiv continues to be successful. Numerous towns were recaptured. This is also due to the fact that Russia is currently focusing on the Donbass and the troops in the Kharkiv area are enormously weakened. It is understood that the remaining Russian troops will withdraw, be replenished and reorganized, and then stop any further advance of Ukrainian troops east of the Seversky Donets River. This is primarily intended to secure supplies for the Russian troops in the Izyum area. To the east of the river, for example, there are several railway lines that can be used to transport tanks and soldiers from Russia to the Donbass.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister forgives the SPD
During a visit to Berlin, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba forgave the SPD for its Russia policy of the past decades, which many criticized as too lenient. “The pre-war history of German-Russian relations and the role of the Social Democrats in this is something that is now history,” said Kuleba after a meeting with SPD leader Lars Klingbeil and SPD faction leader Rolf Mutzenich in Berlin.
The Ukrainian foreign minister pointed out that Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a social democrat, had reversed German arms deliveries and energy policy. “I know it’s not easy to make decisions like that,” Kuleba said. He sees the fact that the chancellor did this with the support of his party as a sign of strength.
Ukraine wants western fighter jets
Kuleba also brought with him a demand for the supply of Western fighter jets and missile defense systems to defend his country against Russia. “Let’s forget the Soviet systems, that’s over,” he said in an interview with “Welt”. “If this war continues, the last stocks of Soviet weapons will soon be exhausted in the countries willing to give them to us. Some are already.” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reacted cautiously and referred to previous positions of the federal government on this.
Millions of tons of Ukrainian grain cannot be exported
The G7 group of leading democracies wants to ensure that Ukraine can remain a major grain exporter despite the Russian war of aggression. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said today at the start of consultations with colleagues from the other G7 countries in Weißenhäuser Strand on the Baltic Sea that they are discussing how to break the grain blockade imposed by Russia and how to bring Ukrainian grain into the world. According to the Green politician, 25 million tons of grain are currently blocked in Ukrainian ports, especially in Odessa, because of the war.
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