Ukraine latest: Numerous Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Kyiv

BBC

Numerous attacks have been repelled in the area of eastern Donetsk over the last 24 hours, Ukraine’s military says.

Russian forces claim they are about to take the eastern city of Bakhmut – the focus of intense fighting for many months.

The head of Russia’s Wagner private army claims it is “practically encircled” with limited routes out.

The deputy mayor of the city told the BBC there was street fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

But Oleksandr Marchenko said Russia was not yet in control, despite constant shelling.

“They have no goal to save the city… their only goal is killing people and the genocide of the Ukrainian people,” Mr Marchenko told the Today programme.

The UK Ministry of Defence said Bakhmut is under “increasingly severe” pressure.

According to the UK intelligence, Russian forces and Wagner troops have made further advances into northern suburbs, making the Ukraine-held section of the city vulnerable to Russian attacks on three sides.

The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited Bakhmut on Friday for meetings with local commanders on how to bolster front-line forces.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to Russian-held Ukrainian territory in southern Donetsk.

Russian troops have been trying to take Bakhmut for over six months.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned this week that the situation on the eastern front line was becoming “more and more difficult”.

A key concern for Ukraine is its ever-decreasing ammunition stocks as the high-intensity war with Russia shows no sign of slowing.

The US has announced a further $400m (£333m) in military aid to boost Kyiv’s depleted ammunition stocks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the country’s latest package included high-precision Himars artillery rockets and howitzers “which Ukraine is using so effectively”.

President Zelensky earlier stressed that artillery and shells were needed to “stop Russia”. The US is also sending tactical bridges ahead of Ukraine’s expected offensive.

The delivery of such equipment – allowing armoured vehicles to cross rivers and ditches – comes as Ukrainian military officials and experts have suggested the offensive could begin in the coming weeks.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Blinken said: “This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided…