Russia says forces held 80% of Bakhmut, but Ukraine calls
Russia continued with unrelenting attacks on the smashed eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and also shelled the southern city of Kherson where two people died in the attack. Bakhmut is a pivotal capture for Russia in its advance through eastern Ukraine.
Heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern front, said Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar on Telegram, adding that pro-Kyiv forces repelled attacks in most areas.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the “continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support” of the United States as his country fights Russia’s invasion and said it was critically important for Ukraine to begin reconstruction this year, and said Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed this year.
Here are the top points about the Russia-Ukraine war:Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar, writing on Telegram, said that Russia is using its most professional units and resorting to a significant amount of artillery and aviation. Every day, the enemy carries out from 40 to 50 storming operations in Bakhmut and 500 shelling episodes.
The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said this week that his forces held 80% of Bakhmut, but the Ukrainian military said that figure was exaggerated.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address, said that Ukraine is looking forward to the delivery of weapons promised by the partners. “We are bringing victory closer as much as possible”.
Ukrainian officials are focusing on the massive rebuilding effort that will be needed as well as pressure from allies to show progress in tackling corruption. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal promised to account for every dollar of US aid and said reconstruction work will start this year.
A report by Russian news agency TASS, citing US Journalist Seymour Hersh’s website, alleged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage have embezzled at least USD 400 million, which was sent to the country for the purchase of diesel fuel. “The level of corruption in Kyiv is approaching that of the Afghan war, although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from Ukraine,” according to Hersh’s sources.
President Joe Biden said the United States and its allies in the European Union and NATO are stronger than ever. He said that Putin was confident he would break NATO and the European Union. “That’s what he thought, but he was wrong. He was wrong on every point, on every front,” said Biden, adding that today US and its allies are more united and more determined than ever.
