Pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine said that they are close to encircling the strategic city of Bakhmut in the east of the country, while the Russian Wagner militia is fighting a street war inside Bakhmut with Ukrainian forces, and Kyiv has pledged not to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory.
The pro-Russian forces in Donetsk Province (eastern Ukraine) stated that they had taken control of some of the entrances to the city of Oglidar, and that they would soon begin encircling Bakhmut, as they put it.
The founder of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said today, Sunday, that fierce battles are taking place with the Ukrainian forces in all the streets of the northern neighborhoods of Bakhmut, north of Donetsk.
Prigozhin added - in a statement on the Telegram application - "Our soldiers are fighting for every street, every house and every building staircase... The Ukrainian forces present do not back down and fight to the end."
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces had taken control of "important sites on the Donetsk axis and killed more than 115 Ukrainian servicemen."
Ukrainian novel
On the other hand, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said that 140 members of the Wagner militia were killed or wounded in the Battle of Bakhmut.
The Ukrainian Staff Command stated that the Russian forces are regrouping on the fighting axes in the region at the cities of Bakhmut, Liman, Avdiivka and Novopavlevka.
It confirmed that it had repelled several attempts by the Russian forces to advance on nine axes in the region.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Sunday that the situation in the east "will remain difficult, but manageable and the defense forces are stationed there."
The Ukrainian Border Service published footage of the evacuation of fighters injured in the battles in Bakhmut.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated earlier that Russia is mobilizing more forces to break the Ukrainian air defenses.
The complex situation on the Bakhmut front was also confirmed by Ukrainian military sources to the island, describing it as the most difficult along the front, in light of the Russian forces attacking the city from several axes.
The sources added that attempts to block the highway in the south of the city do not stop, stressing that the Ukrainian forces are still able to repel these attacks and inflict heavy losses on the attackers, as they described it.
In northeastern Ukraine, the regional military administration in Kharkiv said that two Russians had struck the center of the country's second largest city, leaving five injured and damaging residential buildings and a higher education institution.
Western weapons
The Ukrainian Minister of Defense confirmed today, Sunday, that the long-range weapons that Western countries promised to deliver to Ukraine will not be used to target Russian lands, but only occupied regions.
The Ukrainian minister's statement came during a press conference in Kyiv, hours after German Chancellor Olaf Schultz spoke to the press yesterday, Saturday, in which he said that there is agreement with the Ukrainian president to avoid using weapons coming from the West to launch attacks on Russian territory.
Ukrainian Defense Minister: We will use Western long-range weapons to recover our occupied regions (Reuters)
Schultz added - in a press interview published today, Sunday - that there is a consensus in this regard, explaining that his country carefully studied every arms delivery to Ukraine in coordination with its allies, led by the United States, which allows avoiding the escalation of the war, as he put it.
And with repeated promises to grant Kyiv long-range Western weapons, Washington announced that it would provide Ukraine with new military aid worth $2.2 billion, including GLSDB bombs to be installed on missiles for the American Himars launchers. Its range reaches 150 kilometers, which enables the Ukrainian forces to target the rear lines of the Russian forces.
Canada and Portugal
Yesterday, Saturday, Canada sent the first German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and Defense Minister Anita Anand said - in a tweet on Twitter - that a Canadian Air Force plane took off from Halifax (eastern Canada) with the first Leopard 2 tank on board. Introduction to Ukraine.
In late January, Canada announced that it would send 4 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, shortly after Germany and other countries announced that they would support the Ukrainian army with dozens of these tanks, which are among the best in the world.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced that his country would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, without specifying the number.
After announcing late last month that it would initially send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Germany agreed last Friday to export Leopard 1 tanks to enhance the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
Yesterday, Saturday, the Ukrainian president confirmed - after talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - that his forces had started training on Challenger 2 tanks in Britain, saying that they would have a decisive role on the battlefield.
London recently promised to send 14 tanks of this type to Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Sunday that helping to arm Ukraine so that it can defend itself against Russia is "the fastest way to peace," stressing that "like all autocrats, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin responds only to force."
Iron Dome
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Sunday that he is studying the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the Iron Dome anti-missile system, but first discusses the potential political repercussions of this step.
Netanyahu explained in an interview with a French channel that one of the main considerations in making the decision to provide Kyiv with the new dome is Tel Aviv's desire not to enter into a military conflict with Russia, or the Russian air forces operating in the region, including in Syrian airspace.