Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
A firefighter works through the shattered window of a damaged building in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, after a Russian drone strike overnight on May 12, 2025. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast / Facebook)
Russian attacks injured at least 22 people in Ukraine over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on May 12.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia deployed 108 attack and decoy drones during the assault overnight.
Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 55 strike drones across the eastern, northern, southern, and central parts of the country. Thirty decoy drones disappeared from radars without causing damage.
Regions affected by the overnight assault included Odesa, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, and Zhytomyr oblasts, according to Ukraine’s military.
In Donetsk Oblast, five civilians were injured on May 11 in separate attacks on four towns, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
The state railway company, Ukrainian Railways, confirmed that a Russian drone also attacked a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12, injuring the locomotive driver with shrapnel. He was hospitalized and is in stable condition. According to the statement, the attack failed to halt railway traffic.
In Odesa Oblast, one person was injured as Russian drones struck civilian infrastructure. The attack damaged residential buildings, an administrative office, and a fire station, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces attacked over 30 settlements with drones, artillery, and air strikes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. The strikes targeted critical and civilian infrastructure, damaging five apartment buildings, nine houses, a cellular tower, and civilian vehicles. Five civilians were injured.
In Kharkiv Oblast, eight communities came under fire over the past 24 hours. Russia used KAB bombs and first-person-view (FPV) drones to attack multiple districts. Five people were injured. Civilian infrastructure, houses, garages, and cars suffered damage, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian troops attacked with a guided aerial bomb, injuring two men. One of them is in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care, according to Governor Serhii Lysak. Houses and cars were damaged in the attack.
In Sumy Oblast, nearly 90 Russian strikes were recorded in the region across 33 settlements in 12 communities, injuring one civilian, regional authorities reported.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian forces launched 494 attacks on 16 settlements, including six air strikes, over 300 drone attacks, and numerous artillery attacks. Two people were injured, according to the local administration.
Despite appeals from Kyiv and its partners for a truce, the Kremlin insists on negotiations without an unconditional ceasefire. In a press conference in the early hours of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukraine to restart talks, which, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Russia wishes to be based on the terms of the 2022 Istanbul discussions and the "current situation on the battlefield."
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his readiness to meet Putin in Turkey on May 15, reiterating Ukraine’s proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire starting May 12. The Kremlin has not responded to Zelensky's proposal for a face-to-face meeting of the two leaders.
Anna Fratsyvir is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent, with a background in broadcast journalism and international affairs. Previously, she worked as a TV journalist at Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne, covering global politics and international developments. Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Communications from Taras Shevchenko National University and is currently an MA candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn
