China to send special envoy to Kiev and Moscow as part of peace efforts
Ukraine announces gains in Bachmut. Russia denies
A Ukrainian tank is driving on the road near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. A.B
Ukraine announced yesterday the capture of a logistics center near the city of Pakhmut, while Russia said its forces had repelled escalating Ukrainian offensive attempts on its positions in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, China announced that it would send a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia in a bid to reach a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis.
Ukrainian military commanders said regional gains by Ukrainian forces this week in the disputed eastern city of Pakhmut had ensured an important logistical hub.
Hana Maliar, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, confirmed in a Telegram statement yesterday that Ukrainian forces had won the ground around the city, echoing statements by Ukrainian military leaders earlier this week.
Ukrainian military officials have denied speculation that fighting and moving forward in Bakhamout suggests a highly anticipated counteroffensive is still underway. The commander of the first attack battalion of the separate third attack brigade, Rollo, who carried out the operation, said that the two-kilometer increase was achieved near the Seversky Donets canal, between the villages of Ivanevsky and Kordomyvka.
Another commander and military spokesman confirmed the gains. Rollo also said the victory came after other successful operations, including one that secured an access route near Khromov, north of Pakhmut, and another that allowed Ukrainian forces to regain lost positions at the industrial college inside the city of Bachmut.
The head of Russia's Wagner armed group accused Russian regular forces of "fleeing" their positions near Ukraine's Bakhmut, where Kiev announced a breakthrough, adding that defenses were "collapsing."
Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video posted on his Telegram account that "there was simply a flight of Defense Ministry units on the outskirts of Pakhmut," which have recently been supervised by units of the regular Russian army. Ukrainian forces had recaptured a reservoir north of the city, the epicentre of battles in eastern Ukraine, and were stationed on tactical heights overlooking it, he said.
Russia's Defense Ministry said yesterday that its forces had repelled escalating Ukrainian offensive attempts on their positions in eastern Ukraine and indicated that its forces had retreated in one area for reasons related to war planning.
Ukraine has deployed more than 1000,40 troops and up to 26 tanks in 95 attempted attacks on a battlefront stretching more than <> kilometers, the ministry said in a statement. It said the attacks took place towards the town of Solidar, which is under the control of Russian forces.
"We have repelled all attacks by Ukrainian army units ... We did not allow any penetration of the defensive ranks of the Russian forces."
The same statement noted that Russian forces retreated slightly in an area of the front, and took control of what it described as "more convenient positions" near the Berkhievka reservoir northwest of Bachmut.
China's Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that Beijing will send a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia starting next week in a bid to help reach a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasia affairs and former ambassador to Moscow, will also visit Poland, France and Germany.
Wang told a news conference on Tuesday that the Chinese representative's visit to relevant countries reflects China's commitment to promoting peace and negotiations. Wang added that China is willing to prevent the situation from escalating.
My visits are scheduled to begin next week.
Turkey announced yesterday that talks on extending the agreement that allows grain exports from Ukraine via the Black Sea are nearing completion.
Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement: "We are moving towards completing the extension of the grain agreement."