Top news stories about the Russia-Ukraine war on Russia's Channel One on Thursday, May 12, 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

They use any means to discredit the actions of the Russian army. At the same time, they beg for military aid from the West. The Russian Humanitarian Response Headquarters spoke about the new provocations that the Kiev regime is organizing in the zone of the special operation. Our military department noted a particular cynicism behind such actions, which lies in the fact that the Ukrainian army is willing to endanger the lives of a thousand citizens in order to achieve its criminal goals. Anastasia Kobyzeva has the details.

Kobyzeva said: “A cloud of red-yellow poisonous smoke presumably over a village of Dolgenkoe in Kharkov region is the result of another provocation by the SBU together with nationalists. They blew up a tank containing fertilizer. It’s another attempt by the Kiev authorities to blame our country for using chemical weapons.” 

Said Mikhail Mizintsev, Head of the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation: “No servicemen or local residents were harmed in this provocation. Russia has repeatedly warned about nationalists preparing similar provocations. The Kiev regime’s main goal is to receive more military aid from the West.”

Kobyzeva said: “The Russian Defense Control Center said that the explosion happened at around 2pm. After a while the clouds cleared. As expected, the Ukrainian media blamed Russia. According to them, the explosion happened near Kramatorsk, not in the Kharkov region. The Kiev authorities are yet again using methods of the West. The techniques, as we know, have been well thought out. It’s enough to recall the show put on by “White Helmets” in Duma in Syria. A fake video became the basis for the West bombing the country. In fact, there was no sarin attack in 2018.”

Ukraine shelled the village of Solokhi in the Belgorod region [in Russia]

According to updated data from the regional authorities, one person died and seven others were injured, including a teenager. They are now receiving medical care. It all happened last night. One residential building was partially destroyed. There were disruptions to the gas supply, but this has already been fixed. Emergency services are on site. Residents have been taken to a safe place. Solokhi is located just 11 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.

The Luhansk People’s Republic celebrates the eighth anniversary of the independence referendum

This morning, Ukrainian troops shelled three settlements in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Yasinovataya, Panteleymonovka, and Mikhailovka were under fire. More than ten shells were fired, including from Grad launchers. This was reported by the Ceasefire Control Center. In order to stop this shelling, the people’s militia, with the support of our army, continue to knock out Ukrainian troops from the settlements in Donbas.

Today, the residents of Lugansk, following Donetsk, are celebrating the eighth anniversary of the referendum on the independence of the Republic. On May 14, more than 96 percent of the inhabitants declared the freedom and sovereignty of the region. This year, for the first time, the Lugansk People’s Republic, like the Donetsk People’s Republic, is celebrating Republic Day and their status, which is recognized by Russia. 

In the liberated city of Popasna, a peaceful life is gradually being established

The restoration of peace and wellbeing is the main thing that the residents of Lugansk People’s Republic dream about today. In Popasna, which the people’s militia took control of a few days ago, the de-mining of streets has begun, and humanitarian aid has been delivered to people. Our military is finding more and more evidence of the atrocities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Huseyn Huseynov reports from the scene.

Huseynov said: “Fighters of the Russian army are patrolling the streets of the liberated Popasna. It’s necessary to go through each street to make sure that there are no more Ukrainian army groups here.In an attempt to cover their retreat, the Ukrainian armed forces abandoned several small units in the city, mainly reservists. Having ended up trapped, many of them surrendered, but not all.”

A soldier of the Russian military said, “[The Ukrainian army] tried to seize buildings, they were shooting at a kindergarten.”

Charges were filed against four more soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for shelling settlements 

Our military investigators charged four more fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the shelling of settlements by the Ukrainian security forces. All those charged are Marines from the 36th brigade, which stationed itself in Mariupol. They are defendants in a criminal case about the abuse of civilians. The case involves the Chief of Artillery, Roman Shostak, two commanders of self-propelled artillery batteries, and the commander of a self-propelled artillery battalion. According to the investigation, they did not take any measures to protect civilians from the attack. Moreover, they shelled settlements, where only civilians were located. The fighters confessed to this during interrogation.

Alexander Plotnikov, commander of the self-propelled artillery battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said: “Here is the firing position, they fired from here on the settlements of Sartana, Talakovka on the orders of the Chief of Artillery of the 36th brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Shostak. Civilians who did not take part in the military conflict were in these settlements.”

The Russian Defense Ministry spoke about the courage and heroism of servicemen who fight on the front line

Corporal Yegor Varushkin landed from a Mi-8 helicopter at an enemy airfield and immediately entered into battle, facing superior enemy forces. Together with his comrades, he destroyed hidden, portable anti-aircraft missile systems and took control of the airfield control tower.

Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Okorokov and his motor rifle unit liberated the village from armed gangs. Despite the numerical advantage of the enemy, Nikolai competently launched an attack, about 15 militants and armored vehicles were destroyed.

Senior Sergeant Mikhail Chekulaev with his squad stumbled upon an ambush of neo-Nazis. The commander decided to split up, one group opened heavy fire on the enemy, the other went from the rear. During the short battle, two enemy firing points and more than 10 militants were destroyed.

National Guard soldiers act selflessly in the special operation

Distinguished servicemen were handed state awards. The solemn ceremony took place in St. Petersburg. The Order of Courage was received by the commander of a special detachment, a police colonel, and two more fighters. They managed to prevent several attacks on the military and humanitarian convoys. They also inflicted significant damage on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment, and detained many members of armed groups.

Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to the head of the LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, congratulating him on the Day of the Luhansk People’s Republic

The President emphasized that the residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic are celebrating the state holiday in difficult conditions, with weapons in their hands, defending their native land. And he expressed confidence that the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the republic will be defended through joint efforts.

The situation around Ukraine sparked mass protests in Bulgaria

Several hundred people took to the streets of Sofia demanding the resignation of the government. According to the demonstrators, the government pays too much attention to the events in another country, while things are not going too well in the country itself. Prices are rising, especially for gas. Residents have been particularly annoyed by the fact that the Sofia City Council hung a Ukrainian flag on the city hall building in solidarity with Kiev in April. The protesters tried to tear it down. They believe that there can be no flags other than Bulgarian ones on public buildings. A similar protest was reportedly held in another city, Varna.