Near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated more than two kilometers of territory from the control of Russian forces. This was stated by Mykola Volokhov, commander of the 'Terra' reconnaissance unit of the Azov tactical group, to the Ukrainian broadcaster Espresso TV. "Now we can say that the Defense Forces have liberated more than 2 km of Bakhmut. This result was achieved by the third separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which includes the 'Terra' unit," Volokhov said. "We killed a large number of Russians and took prisoners," the Ukrainian commander concluded.
"Don't think of this counter-offensive as the last, because we don't know what will come out of it. If we manage to liberate our territories with this counteroffensive, then in the end you will say, yes, it was the last, but if not, then it means that we must prepare for the next counteroffensive." This was stated in an interview with the German Bild by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. In the conversation that touched on a wide range of topics, a question was also asked about possible negotiations, in the response Kuleba explained that, in his opinion, "people must be reminded that we patiently negotiated with Russia from 2014 to 2022. Patient. The first part of these negotiations was supported by Germany and France. And we were advised to make concessions here and there. It worked? No, we are in the biggest war in Europe since World War II."
"Our mission is to save our country, our independence, our people. We take everything back." This was stated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with the German weekly Die Zeit, according to an anticipation.
"In Bakhmut, fighters of the 3rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine advanced 2.6 km during the assault on Russian positions." This is what Kiev makes known about the military operations of the Ukrainian army, writes the Guardian citing the Ukrainian TV Suspilne. "Our armed forces defeated two companies of the 72nd brigade of the Russian Federation," said the commander of the Azov regiment. According to Kyiv Independent, shock troops killed 64 Russian soldiers during the offensive in the southwestern suburbs of Bakhmut. Among the victims there are also Wagner mercenaries, while 5 Russian soldiers were captured.
Russian forces intend to evacuate workers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. To denounce it is the Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom on Telegram. "Information was received about the preparation of the Russian occupiers for the 'evacuation' of about 3,100 people from the satellite city of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. First of all, it is the dismissal of 2,700 workers of the plant who signed a contract with the fake 'Operational Organization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant' or another Rosatom enterprise, and members of their families," the Ukrainian company wrote. "Moreover, according to information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, part of the families of Zaporizhzhia nuclear workers have already been brought by Energodar to the Rostov region of Russia," he added. "The Russian occupiers demonstrate their inability to ensure the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as there is now a catastrophic shortage of qualified personnel. Even those Ukrainian workers who, after signing shameful contracts, agreed to collaborate with the Rashists, will be 'evacuated' in the near future. And this will aggravate the already extremely urgent issue of having enough personnel to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant," Energoatom stressed.
Britain is poised to formally classify the Russian mercenary group Wagner as a "terrorist organization," a move that would impose sanctions on the private militia and increase pressure on Russia. This was reported by The Times newspaper. The Interior Ministry has been working on this strategy "for two months and the formalization should come in a few weeks," the newspaper writes, citing a government source. Once enacted, the measure would make it a criminal offence to belong to Wagner, attend her meetings, encourage her support, or display her logo in public.
China must use "its relations with Russia" to make Moscow understand "that it is at an impasse" in Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said. during the report of the Council of Ministers in Paris, in the presence of her German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock. "It is necessary for China to use its relations with Russia to make Russia better understand that it is at an impasse and ask it to find the reason for a return to peace and for the non-continuation of the war," Colonna said, more than 14 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated parliamentary procedures to officially exit the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), in which Moscow has already suspended its participation since 2015. This is reported by Russian agencies. The treaty had been in force since 1990 and amended in 1997 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but NATO countries, Moscow complains, have not ratified these amendments.
