Speaking in a live broadcast on TV Channel One on May 18, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov announced that Russia is using laser weapons in a special military operation in Ukraine, especially a laser system capable of capable of hitting targets up to 5 km away, according to TASS news agency.

Ukrainian self-propelled howitzers cross a field in eastern Ukraine on May 17 AFP

Borisov asserted that the Zadira laser weapon system, Russia’s latest laser weapon system, is more powerful than the Peresvet system, which is capable of disabling spy satellites at a distance of 1,500 km.

According to Borisov, the Zadira system focuses on destroying targets at a distance of 5 km and is capable of shooting down many types of unmanned aircraft. There is currently no information on Ukraine’s response.

Ukrainian intelligence: Some Russian units refuse to fight

Meanwhile, page The Kyiv Independent On May 18, it was reported that the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that some units of the 70th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of Russia had publicly refused to participate in the war in Ukraine.

The Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also said that servicemen who wanted to return to Russia were sent to the most dangerous areas of the conflict. There is currently no information on Russia’s response.

In March, Reuters quoted a senior US defense official as saying there was some information about morale of some Russian units in Ukraine as the fighting entered its fourth week. The official did not provide any evidence to support this information.

see more: Russian soldiers demoralized?

Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Azovstal surrendered?

Russia said on May 18 that a total of 959 Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal steel plant had surrendered, but the fate of these soldiers remained unclear.

According to Reuters, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 18 that a total of 959 Ukrainian soldiers, of which 80 were wounded, in bunkers and tunnels below the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol have ‘surrendered’ since the date of the surrender. 16.5.

see more: Russia claims nearly 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Azovstal have ‘surrendered’

Ukraine: Russian soldier pleads guilty to killing civilians

A Russian soldier accused of killing civilians on May 18 pleaded guilty in the first war criminal trial of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to AFP.

When asked in court if he pleaded guilty to the charges, including war crimes and premeditated murder, defendant Vadim Shishimarin replied “yes”. If convicted, Shishimarin could face life in prison, according to Reuters.

Earlier on May 11, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova announced on Facebook the opening of the first trial of war criminals and identified the defendant as Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin (21 years old), a member of the military. member of the 4th Guards Tank Division.

During the investigation, Ukrainian authorities discovered that Shishimarin had murdered an unarmed civilian on February 28 in the village of Chupakhivka in Sumy province. At that time, the victim, 62 years old, was riding a bicycle on the road.

see more: Ukraine: Russian soldier pleads guilty to killing civilians

Germany supports the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine

Reuters on May 18, citing a notice from the German Defense Ministry, said that Germany will send the Czech Republic 15 Leopard 2 tanks under an exchange program that Berlin wants to help countries transfer Soviet-era heavy weapons to Ukraine for use. support this country against Russia, according to Reuters. The Czech Republic also owns many Soviet-era tanks that Ukrainian soldiers are used to.

Last month, the Czech Republic reportedly became the first NATO member state to send T-72 tanks and BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. On April 4, Czech Television broadcast a report showing that the train carrying five tanks and five combat vehicles was believed to be on its way to Slovakia before being transferred to Ukraine.

see more: First NATO country to supply tanks to Ukraine

Ukraine withdrew from the process Negotiating with Russia?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 18 that peace talks with Ukraine were still at a standstill, and said Kyiv absolutely did not want to continue those negotiations.

“Negotiations are not progressing and we see that Ukrainian negotiators do not want to continue to pursue this,” Peskov said.

On May 17, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko as saying that Russia and Ukraine were not holding talks “of any kind” and Kyiv “actually withdrew from the negotiation process.” “.

see more: Ukraine says the conflict is in a persistent position, Russia accuses the UK and the US of causing a deadlock in negotiations

Russia announces funding for reconstruction of ‘liberated’ territory

RIA news agency on May 18 quoted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin as saying that the country will finance the reconstruction of the territories in Ukraine controlled by Russian forces and will repair the roads connecting those areas with the Russian Federation. Russia. Mr. Khusnullin also claimed that Russia had “liberated” those areas.

According to Khusnullin, the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, will provide electricity to Russia and Ukraine if Kyiv pays. Russian soldiers have taken control of the Zaporizhzhia factory from Ukraine, according to Reuters.

see more: What is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant like after 2 months of control by Russia?

Russia’s defense spending increased because of the war?

Russia’s defense spending has increased by nearly 40% in the first four months of 2022, according to data released by the Russian Finance Ministry on May 18, as Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine entered its 84th day.

Figures show that Russia spent 1.7 trillion rubles ($26.4 billion) on defense between January and April 2022, nearly half of the budget for the whole of 2022, 3.5 trillion rubles, according to Reuters.

In April alone, Russia spent 628 billion rubles ($9.7 billion) on military spending, up 128% from April 2021. The Russian Finance Ministry did not comment on the increase in defense spending.

Finland, Sweden apply to join NATO

Finland and Sweden officially applied to join NATO on May 18 at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, according to Reuters.

Diplomats said that the approval of the application for accession by the parliaments of all 30 member countries could take a year, according to Reuters.

“The filing you create today is a historic step. Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after receiving an application from the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors at NATO headquarters, according to AFP. .

see more: Finland and Sweden have officially applied to join NATO

Turkey blocks Finland and Sweden from joining NATO?

Turkey has just blocked NATO’s initial decision to handle the request of Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, according to the newspaper. Financial Times.

Finland and Sweden officially submitted their applications to join NATO on May 18, reflecting a major shift in public opinion in these two Nordic countries since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine. 24.2, according to Reuters.

NATO ambassadors met on May 18 to open talks about Finland and Sweden applying to join the alliance, but Ankara’s objections stopped any relevant voting, according to the report. Financial Times cite an informed source.

see more: Turkey blocks Finland and Sweden from joining NATO?