Russia has started a major attack on Ukraine a NATO Secretary-General warned, as the country braces for more attacks from Putin’s forces.
Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine faced heavy Russian artillery fire earlier today ahead of a major new offensive as the first anniversary of the war neared.
Russia’s assault on Bakhmut has been lead by members of the Wagner group, who have made small gains.
Deputy commander of Ukraine's Svoboda battalion, Volodymyr Nazarenko, said: ”The city's suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling,"
Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine faced heavy Russian artillery fire earlier today
Reuters
Ukraine’s military reported shelling from the Russians on the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut.
It added that forces had repelled a number of attacks near Bakhmut as well as assaults in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he considered the long-anticipated Russian offensive to have already started.
"We see no sign whatsoever that President Putin is preparing for peace," he said ahead of a NATO defence minister's meeting.
"What we see is President Putin and Russia still wanting to control Ukraine. We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities," he told reporters.
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in the Palace of Westminster in his first trip to the UK since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Attendees in the packed-out palace included King Charles III, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former PM Boris Johnson.
The visit came following Sunak’s promise of extra military aid for Ukraine in their continued fight against Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in the Palace of Westminster
POOL
The Ukrainian president thanked Britain for its role in assisting Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russia.
He also took a moment to thank friend Boris Johnson.
Zelensky said: “London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react.
“Boris – you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. Thank you.”
