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Friday, May 13. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

Dispatches from Ukraine, provided by Forbes Ukraine’s editorial team.

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes Ukraine’s reporters gather information and provide updates on the situation.

Friday, May 13. Day 79. By Daryna Antoniuk

National

Ukraine is entering a "long" phase of war, according to Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov. Nobody can predict when a breakthrough will happen, he said. "In order to win it now, we must carefully plan resources, avoid mistakes and project our strength," Reznikov said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but without intermediaries. According to Zelensky, there is a possibility that Ukraine would make concessions for the sake of securing a peace agreement but added that it would not compromise over the country’s territorial integrity. Ukraine and Russia have not held face-to-face talks since March 29.

A 21-year-old Russian soldier is to become the first Russian to be tried for war crimes at a trial in Kyiv on Friday. The soldier is accused of killing an unarmed 62-year-old Ukrainian man who was riding a bicycle in Ukraine’s Sumy region. If found guilty, he would face ten years to life in prison.

Russia launches between 10 and 14 cruise missiles every day at targets in Ukraine, said commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Russia has recently started to avoid using aircraft, which have suffered heavy losses, he explained.

Russians forces are issuing Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens who were forcibly deported to the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea from the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.

Regional

Mariupol. Russia continues to bombard the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol. After the bombing is over, Russians may try continue launching ground attacks, according to Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol's mayor.

Kharkiv. Russian troops opened fire on civilians from a tank in Kharkiv Oblast, according to the first Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin.

Luhansk. Russian attacks on residential areas of the Luhansk region destroyed almost 60 houses and damaged a bridge on May 12. Two people were killed, including an 11-year-old boy.

Kyiv. Starting on May 15, Kyiv will reduce curfew hours from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Starting May 16, the metro in the capital will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., while buses will work until 10:30 p.m., according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

World

The European Union will provide $521 million in military support to Ukraine. The EU has also promised to put more pressure on Russia in terms of economic sanctions, according to the bloc's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell.

Ukraine's access to weapon supplies has improved but the country's fighting forces need more tools to defeat Russia, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The UK has imposed sanctions on Putin's alleged mistress, Alina Kabaeva, and ex-wife, Lyudmila Ocheretnaya. According to the UK Foreign Office's statement, Putin relies on his network of family, childhood friends, and selected elite “who have benefited from his rule and in turn support his lifestyle.” Officially, the Russian president's assets are modest.

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