# Russia Ends Truce, Resumes Full-Scale Offensive in Ukraine *Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk* **Published**: 2026-05-12T10:05:18.402Z (4h ago) **Category**: conflict | **Region**: Eastern Europe **Importance**: 9/10 **Sources**: OSINT **Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/3625.md **Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries --- **Deck**: Around 09:50 UTC on May 12, 2026, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the resumption of its “special military operation” after a holiday ceasefire elapsed. The move follows weeks of Russian advances near Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Chasiv Yar despite nominal truce arrangements. ## Key Takeaways - Russia’s Defense Ministry declared at about 09:50 UTC on 12 May 2026 that operations in Ukraine have fully resumed after the ceasefire regime expired. - Frontline reporting indicates Russian offensives had already continued or intensified around Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Soledar, and Mezhevskaya sectors during the ceasefire period. - The Kremlin reiterated that it could halt the campaign if Kyiv accepts unspecified conditions, with President Putin signaling openness to talks with President Zelensky. - Ukrainian forces increased drone and MLRS strikes on Russian assets in Donetsk region and along the front from Kostiantynivka to Novopavlivka. On 12 May 2026, at roughly 09:50 UTC, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its “special military operation” in Ukraine has resumed in full intensity following the formal expiration of a holiday ceasefire regime. The statement marks the end of a period in which Moscow had publicly committed to reduced offensive actions, although battlefield accounts show sustained combat and continued Russian advances during that window. In the hours leading up to the announcement, multiple sector assessments of the Ukrainian–Russian front documented Russian progress. On the Pokrovsk axis, reporting at 09:32 UTC described Russian forces advancing northwest of Hryshyne, with fighting spreading to Vasilivka and heavy artillery exchanges around Rodynske and the Zaporozhskaya mine. Similar updates for the Ilyinovskaya and Kostiantynivka fronts noted that, prior to the ceasefire’s effective date, Russian troops had breached key defensive lines west of Kostiantynivka, capturing residential quarters including Soniachnyi and Semivitrivka and securing new ground in the Chervone district. The Chasiv Yar sector also remained contested. A 09:08 UTC assessment highlighted incremental Russian gains in the settlement of Markove over the prior week, constrained by Ukrainian control of high ground to the north. In Soledar’s environs, reports at 08:56 UTC indicated that Russian troops had pushed along waterways and around the village of Dibrova, now described as almost entirely under Russian control. On the Mezhevskaya front, an earlier Russian claim to have captured Biliakivka months ago contrasts with a still‑fluid tactical situation and small‑unit Russian infiltration across the Solona River. Despite these advances, the Kremlin is simultaneously signaling conditional openness to negotiations. At 09:36 UTC, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the campaign could end “at any moment” if Kyiv makes a decision it “knows” is required, without specifying terms. President Vladimir Putin was cited as willing to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky “in Moscow or anywhere else,” framing Russia’s position as flexible on venue but not on core demands. Ukraine, for its part, has continued active operations during and after the ceasefire. At 09:02 UTC, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces detailed drone strikes against Russian PRV‑16 and P‑18 radar systems and multiple logistical sites in Donetsk region, in coordination with a deep‑strike center. Russian sources around 08:20–08:35 UTC reported unusually high levels of Ukrainian multiple‑launch rocket system fire along the front from Kostiantynivka to Novopavlivka, warning of potential threats to rear‑area cities. Russian authorities, meanwhile, accused Ukrainian forces at 09:23 UTC of violating the ceasefire more than 30,000 times over its duration, asserting that Russian troops responded with counter‑battery and precision strikes. This renewed offensive posture matters for several reasons. Tactically, Russian progress west of Kostiantynivka and towards Pokrovsk pressures Ukraine’s remaining defensive belts in Donetsk region and raises the possibility of further encirclement operations affecting key logistics hubs. Ukrainian drone and MLRS actions indicate an attempt to blunt these advances by degrading Russian early‑warning radars, ammunition stockpiles, and rear deployments. Strategically, Moscow’s dual messaging—escalating attacks while advertising theoretical readiness to negotiate—appears aimed at maximizing leverage over both Kyiv and Western backers. By presenting battlefield success alongside an offer of talks, Russia seeks to shape any future settlement on its terms while casting Ukraine as the obstacle if negotiations fail to materialize. ## Outlook & Way Forward In the short term, the expiration of the ceasefire is likely to be followed by intensified Russian combined‑arms pressure on the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka–Chasiv Yar–Soledar line, where earlier gains can be consolidated into deeper penetrations. Watch for attempts to exploit weakened Ukrainian defenses to create operational breakthroughs, along with increased Russian use of glide bombs and long‑range fires against Ukrainian command and logistics nodes. Ukraine is expected to counter with continued drone and precision artillery strikes on Russian air defense and radar networks, aiming to degrade Russia’s situational awareness and air defense umbrella. The reported surge in MLRS fire suggests Kyiv may be willing to accept higher ammunition expenditure to stabilize threatened sectors. Western supplies of air defense interceptors, long‑range fires, and engineering assets for fortification will be critical variables in how quickly Ukraine can adapt to the renewed Russian push. Politically, the Kremlin’s references to potential talks with Zelensky are unlikely to translate into near‑term negotiations, but they may influence Western debates on military assistance and war aims. Analysts should monitor any shifts in Western capitals’ rhetoric on acceptable endstates, along with internal Ukrainian political dynamics as the cost of defense rises. Unless there is a significant change in external support or domestic political calculations, the conflict appears set to enter another phase of high‑intensity attrition with limited prospects for decisive resolution in the coming months.