Despite fierce fighting in the streets of Bakhmut and increased Russian pressure on Ukrainian defenses, the city is not under Russian control, the BBC reported. The agency quoted Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Marchenko, according to whom the entire city was destroyed and there was almost no solid building. Meanwhile, Russian army and Wagner group soldiers have advanced into the northern suburbs, and Kyiv troops have blown up two important bridges in the area to prevent eastward movement. Thirteen became the victims of the rocket strike in ZaporIzhzhie from Thursday. A child also died in the attack on a 5-story residential building.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said his country had overcome the effects of the Russian strikes, which damaged half of its energy infrastructure, and was coming out of the winter fully stocked with fuel.