Top news stories about the Russia-Ukraine war on Russia's Channel One on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

By Madeline Roache

What follows is NewsGuard’s summary and translation of top news stories from Russia’s state TV Channel One. NewsGuard presents these stories in the order that they appear on the program. NewsGuard shares this summary as part of our mission to monitor and report all categories of misinformation, including Russian disinformation. Please note that these summaries of Russian state TV broadcasts may well contain falsehoods or propaganda, and NewsGuard does not vet them for accuracy or balance.

Kiev has prepared new provocations to blame the Russian military

The Russian Headquarters for Humanitarian Response has revealed more outrageous acts of the Ukrainian armed groups — they treat civilians inhumanely. In one town in the Vinnytsia region [a city in west-central Ukraine], nationalists and foreign mercenaries have established a stronghold right at the school. They forcibly detain civilians from neighboring houses in the school’s basement.   

In Lysychansk [in the Lugansk People’s Republic], the Armed Forces of Ukraine, forced women, children, and old people out of the bomb shelter, threatening them with violance, and placed an ammunition depot there. And in one of the settlements of Kharkiv region, the Kiev security forces set up a stronghold in the public hall and laid mines on the passages toward the building.

The Headquarters also said that Ukrainian nationalists are preparing another provocation and that Western media is planning to widely distribute fabricated materials about alleged ‘atrocities committed by the Russians.’

Said Mikhail Mizintsev, Head of the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation: “According to the available reliable information, in the Kharkiv region the Kiev regime held another bloody action according to the “Buchinsky” scenario. On the road section between the settlements of Stary and New Saltov, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot six civilian cars which had white flags mounted on them. Specialists of the Centre for Information and Psychological Operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took photos and videos of these monstrous crimes. 

Another provocation took place in Belaya Krinitsa in Kherson. The Ukrainian military launched several artillery strikes on the positions of the Russian army. This was done in order to cause return fire on residential buildings with civilians. They were not allowed out of the village. Representatives of the Norwegian press took photos and videos of Russia’s alleged indiscriminate strikes on the civilian population.” 

This morning Ukrainian troops began shelling settlements in Donbas

Five “Grad” missiles were launched on Yasinovataya in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Also, shells flew to Aleksandrovka [in the Donetsk People’s Republic]. The day before, the ceasefire control center reported that five civilians were injured in Mariupol, Vladimirovka, and Pavlovka due to the attacks by Kiev’s security forces. 

The [Donetsk] People’s Militia, with the support of the Russian military, are liberating more and more towns. Today, in the context of a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbas, residents of the Donetsk People’s Republic will celebrate the eighth anniversary of the Day of the Republic and, for the first time, the state’s official recognition by Russia.

Ka-52 helicopters give strong support to the Russian army 

Ka-52 is a real thunderstorm for armored vehicles and areas fortified by the enemy. These combat vehicles were nicknamed “alligators” for their power and versatility. 

They are able to covertly sneak up on a target in a zone that is out of reach to air defense and strike within a few seconds. Аlexander Lyakin observed the work of the Ka-52.

Lyakin said: “The helicopters fly just over the land, lower than they have been instructed. In order to carry out tasks, the helicopters need to be flown by the best pilot.” A Russian soldier said: “The helicopter is highly maneuverable. It allows you to emerge in front of the forest and dive right behind it, which prevents the enemy from identifying you.”

Russian troops act decisively and bravely on the frontline 

The Russian Defense Ministry has named the fighters who distinguished themselves during the special operation. Senior Sergeant Alexander Shepelev discovered a disguised enemy howitzer and a truckload of ammunition during the battle for the airfield. Without being noticed, he crept up to the howitzer and destroyed it, and provided cover for the offensive of the paratroopers.

Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service Nikita Grafkin assisted the wounded right on the battlefield under heavy fire. He also carried five fighters, who could not move on their own, to a safe place.

Sergeant Maxim Arefiev participated in the battles for the liberation of a settlement controlled by Ukrainian nationalists. He destroyed the enemy stronghold and set up firing points, in addition to working out the position of the sniper.

U.S. House of Representatives approves an additional aid package for Ukraine

A record amount of 40 billion dollars will be used to further pump Kiev with weapons. The economic situation in the States is, to put it mildly, difficult, with the inflation level and costs growing by leaps and bounds. Yet, [U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia] Bridget Brink believes that Washington should be more active in helping the Kiev authorities. Yulia Olkhovskaya has the details in her report. 

Olkhovskaya stated: “Bridget Brink confidently climbed the career ladder under five American presidents and never faltered. Newspapers have called her a companion in conflicts. Over the last 26 years in the State Department, she has ended up in countries that, with the active assistance of the U.S., have become conflict zones. Ukraine is only the latest country.”

“Brink herself said that Moscow is more effective at keeping its footing and called on Western countries to show creativity. She said: ‘We are outgunned, we’re out resourced, we’re outmaneuvered. We have to do as much as we can. It’s a challenge. Disinformation is pervasive in Europe and elsewhere and so we have to do as much as we can. We need to be creative and innovative.’ 

“Brink used the opportunity to urge senators to allocate more money for Ukraine. The last package of $40 billion was approved by the House of Representatives today. [Channel One displays a segment from Fox News host Tucker Carlson and quotes him saying:] ‘That’s double what the administration spends on protection of our own borders. And this is just one batch of aid… Also, this package is more than we spend on caring for our veterans each month. The saddest thing is that it has not forced Russia to leave Ukraine.’

Olkhovskaya continued: “The endless spending on Ukraine in the U.S. is only further fuelling inflation and irritating Americans because of the rise in crime and economic problems. 

In response to Biden’s increasingly active help for Ukraine, Senator Rick Scott said this: ‘The most effective thing Biden can do to solve the inflation crisis he created is resign. He’s the problem. Getting him out of office is the quickest and easiest solution.’ In the opinion of Senator Rick Scott, Biden, who is looking more and more confused, is not capable of governing the country during times of crisis.”

Vladimir Putin congratulated the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin on Republic Day

The Russian leader sent a telegram to Denis Pushilin. The president wrote: “Together with Russia, the Donetsk People’s Republic is fighting to ensure that the citizens of the Republic can exercise their legal right to a free and peaceful life, in line with their age-old cultural and spiritual traditions, and in friendship with fraternal Russia.”