"Russia is intensifying the pressure on various fronts in the run-up to the first anniversary of the war", Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said. According to President Zelensky, fierce battles in the Donetsk region are ongoing and the situation is very difficult.  

 The U.S. military has reportedly advised Kyiv to focus on a counter-offensive on the southern front rather than the battle for Bakhmut. However, in President Zelensky's words, Ukraine has no intention to surrender the fronthline city which has been surrounded by Russian forces.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced by the head of military intelligence, as the country braces for a possible Russian offensive, a lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party said. “Major General Kyrylo Budanov will head the Ministry of Defense, which is absolutely logical for wartime”, said MP Davyd Arakhamia.