The Ukrainian army is coming under increasing pressure in the east of the country. President Zelenskyy fears the moment is approaching when Russian forces breach the defenses. Wagner boss Prigoshin also reports a "bitter" house-to-house fight.
The situation on the front in eastern Ukraine is becoming more difficult, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "During the 346 days of this war, I have often said that the situation on the front lines is difficult and that it is getting more and more difficult," said the Ukrainian president. "Now we are at such a point again. A point where the occupiers are increasingly mobilizing their forces to breach our defenses," Zelenskyy added. In his remarks he referred to the situation in "Bachmut, Wuhledar, Lyman and other regions".
However, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar, Ukraine was able to fend off an attack on Bakhmut: "This week the Russian occupying forces made every effort to break through our defenses and encircle Bakhmut." But thanks to the "resilience of our soldiers," they failed to do so, she added.
The British Ministry of Defense confirmed the difficulties of the Ukrainian army. "In the past week, Russia has made further small progress in its attempt to encircle the Donbass city of Bakhmut," the ministry said. The city is "increasingly isolated".
The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, wrote on Telegram that in Bakhmut there were "bitter battles for every street, every house and every stairwell". Ukrainian forces fought "to the last man".
Ukrainian regional authorities said at least four civilians were killed in fighting over the weekend. According to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, two rockets fell in the center of the city, one of which hit a residential building. "At the moment it is known that a fire broke out in one of the apartment buildings and one person was injured," he wrote on Telegram.
