(AFP) — Ukraine on Sunday said fighting had “intensified” on the eastern front as Russian President Vladimir Putin deemed Kyiv’s counteroffensive a failure.
Putin is yet to decide if Russia will renew the grain deal — expiring late Monday — that allowed the resumption of Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea, temporarily halted when the invasion began in February 2022.
“The situation has somewhat intensified in the east,” Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said.
Malyar described Ukrainian forces on the defensive near the eastern city of Kupiansk, but making some advances near Bakhmut.
“For two days in a row, the enemy has been actively attacking in the Kupiansk sector in the Kharkiv region. We are on the defence,” Malyar wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine last month began its highly anticipated fightback after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.
It has however admitted difficult battles and called on the United States and…
