Ukraine updates: Putin appoints Shoigu to security council

Putin has appointed his close ally Shoigu as the secretary of Russia's security council

The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces has offered Mother's Day greetings to mothers of military personnel fighting against Russia. Meanwhile, Russia has reported heavy shelling in Belgorod. Follow DW for more.

The head of Kyiv's military thanks the mothers of "our Ukrainian defenders" on Mother's Day.

Oleksandr Syrskyi said the armed forces were fighting to return those held prisoner by Russia back to Ukraine.

The pledge comes as Russia continues to make incremental gains in the eastern part of the country and amid a fresh offensive in Kharkiv in the northeast.

In other Ukraine-related news, the governor of Russia's Belgorod border region reported heavy shelling over the weekend.

Here's a look at the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine on Sunday, May 12:

Kyiv chief thanks military mothers

Ukraine's military Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has thanked the mothers of service personnel in a special greeting on Ukrainian Mothers' Day.

Syrskyi offered a "down-to-earth bow to mothers whose sons and daughters are serving in Ukraine's armed forces."

"Thank you for the dignified and noble upbringing of your children who are now serving in the benches of the Defense Forces of Ukraine," he said.

"Thank you for your infinite maternal love, tendernessandsleeplessness in thetroubles of the night."

"No matter how old we are, whatever military ranks we have, whatever high positions we hold, whatever dangerous tasks we perform, we remain children to our mothers."

Syrskyi promised mothers whose children were held as Russian prisoners of war that Kyiv's troops were "fighting for every Ukrainian warrior and are trying to do everything to return our brothers and sistersbackfrom Moscow."

"I askeach andeveryonethat can take time out this day and call their mom and congratulate her, thank her forupbringingand her prayers."

"Call and support the mother of the lost brothers and sisters. They need to know we are around," he said.

May 12 is Mother's Day in much of the world this year, including Germany and Ukraine, though its timing varies in several countries.

Belgorod governor says heavy shelling killed one

The governor of Russia's Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine has said a womanwas killedand 29 people wounded amid attacks over the weekend.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also said several hundred flatswere damagedafter continuous attacks from Ukraine over the weekend.

"The city of Belgorod and Belgorod region were subjected to massive shelling by Ukrainian armed forces," Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app late without specifying when the shelling happened.

The governor said about 300 flats in 85 apartment buildings and four commercial properties were damaged, with four roofs of apartment buildings receiving direct hits.

He also said two hospitals, a school, and a sports facility were damaged.

Kyiv says it does not target civilians but instead fires at Russia's military, energy, and transport infrastructure in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian areas.

Russian threat dominates Lithuania election

Lithuaniais voting in the first round of its presidential election after a campaign focusing on security concerns in the Baltic states after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Just over half of Lithuanians believe a Russian attack is possible orevenvery likely, according to an ELTA/Baltijos Tyrimai poll.

Themaincandidates agree that the country should increase defense spending to counter a perceived threat from neighboring Russia.

You can read more on that story here.

rc/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)