+++ News in the Ukraine war +++: Russian attacks are increasing

The situation for Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut is becoming increasingly difficult. Russia is stepping up attacks along the Donbas front.

Ukrainian military vehicle near the front line around the town of Bakhmut Photo: Yan Dobronosov/Reuters

Situation around the embattled Bachmut increasingly difficult

According to the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Olexandr Syrskyi, the situation around the embattled town of Bakhmut is “extremely tense”. Russian Wagner mercenaries tried to encircle the city, he explains. “Despite significant losses, the enemy used Wagner’s best-prepared attack units,” the media center of the Ukrainian military quoted the colonel-general on its Telegram channel as saying.

The Wagner units tried to break through the defenses and encircle the city, says Syrskji. For months, mercenaries from the Wagner troops led by Yevgeny Prigozhin have been engaged in a bitter struggle to capture the strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.

In his video speech, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke of the difficult situation in Bakhmut. “The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can serve to defend our positions, fortify them and defend them,” Zelenskiy said. He called the Ukrainian soldiers who have been defending the Donbass city for half a year “true heroes”.

The Ukrainian army defends Bakhmut in a battle of attrition to tie down and inflict casualties on as many Russian troops as possible. However, the Russians are not only attacking from the east. They have also worked their way north and south of the city, leaving the Ukrainians with only one clear road for a possible retreat. In addition to regular soldiers, Russia primarily uses the Wagner mercenary group in Bakhmut and aims to wear down the Ukrainians. “The enemy army is increasing the intensity of its offensive activities,” Deputy Minister Maljar wrote on Telegram. Despite heavy losses, the enemies are in the majority. The information could not be independently verified. (rtr/dpa)

General Staff confirms intensified Russian attacks

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed intensified Russian attacks on the frontline cities in Donbass. In addition to Bakhmut, attacks on Kupyansk, Liman, Avdiivka and Wuhledar in the east of the country were also mentioned in the General Staff situation report on Monday evening. The attacks near Avdiivka, which is close to Donetsk, and near Wuhledar were repelled. The Russian Ministry of Defense had previously reported an increase in the offensive in the Donetsk area with artillery and airstrikes. (rtr)

Kiyjv sees no arms deliveries from China to Moscow

The Ukrainian secret service chief Kyrylo Budanov currently sees no signs of possible Chinese arms deliveries to Russia. “At this point in time, I don’t think China will agree to transfer arms to Russia,” he told US radio station Voice of America in an interview broadcast Monday. “I don’t see any signs of such things even being discussed.”

When asked about US allegations that China was considering arms sales to Russia, Budanov said: “I do not share this opinion.” Asked about possible other supporters of Moscow, the Ukrainian intelligence chief added: “Almost the only country that is currently more or less seriously arms delivers is Iran.” According to “Voice of America”, the interview was conducted in Ukrainian last Saturday.

US intelligence chief William Burns said over the weekend that Washington was “convinced” Beijing was considering supplying arms to Russia for the Ukraine war. According to a Wall Street Journal report, China is considering supplying drones and ammunition. Beijing has so far denied plans to sell arms to Russia. (afp)

Russia sets conditions for nuclear weapons treaty

Russia does not want to resume participation in the New Start nuclear weapons treaty until the government in Washington accepts Moscow’s position. “The attitude of the collective West,” led by the US, must change towards Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the daily Izvestia. The security of one country cannot be provided at the expense of the security of another country. He explained that by arming Ukraine “as a single bloc, NATO no longer acts as our conditional adversaries, but as enemies.”

On a Chinese peace plan for Ukraine that urges both sides to gradually de-escalate and warns against the use of nuclear weapons, Peskov says Beijing’s proposal should be heard, but the undertones of the proposal are important. (rtr)

Yellen brings $10 billion with him

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met President Zelensky during an unannounced visit to Kyiv and pledged continued US assistance. She announced that she would release a first tranche of US$1.2 billion (more than €1.1 billion) in economic aid. The US wants to help Ukraine with a total of 10 billion dollars this year. In 2022, Washington gave $13 billion. Military support is not included in the figures.

Zelensky thanked the US for its support since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. Foreign aid covers more than half of Ukraine’s state budget this year. The US also welcomed the fact that Saudi Arabia pledged US$400 million in aid during a visit by its foreign minister to Kyiv.

According to the White House, the war in Ukraine will be a central topic at the upcoming meeting between Chancellor Scholz and US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday. “I think I can tell you in good faith that the war in Ukraine will undoubtedly be a major topic of discussion,” said National Security Council communications director John Kirby. Germany has been heavily involved and has expanded its support in a meaningful way, as the recent commitment to Leopard 2 tanks has shown.

However, there have recently been conflicting accounts from the White House and the Chancellery as to how the commitment to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine came about. A spokesman for the federal government denied that Scholz made the delivery of German Leopard tanks dependent on the supply of Abrams tanks by the United States. Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said so. (dpa)