FIERCE FIGHTING
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile said Saturday that his troops were facing a “most difficult” situation near the eastern town of Bakhmut, which has been under attack from the Russian army for weeks.
Ukraine is clawing back territory in both the east and south, occupied by Russia for months, but is facing a tough challenge in some areas.
“A very severe situation persists in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions” Zelensky said, referring to two regions Russia says its has annexed.
“The most difficult is near Bakhmut, like in previous days. We are still holding our positions,” he said.
Russian troops have for weeks been pummelling Bakhmut, a wine-making and salt-mining city that used to be populated by 70,000 people, in the hope of capturing the city.
Zelensky also said that Russia’s total losses were now approaching 65,000.
One soldier, just back from the front line, told AFP they had been fighting for four days non-stop.
“Out of the 13 guys in my group, we lost two soldiers, and five got evacuated,” said the 50-year-old soldier, “Poliak”, from the 93rd brigade.
“For days I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, didn’t drink except coffee,” he added.
France meanwhile said it would train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil.
Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said France would also provide Ukraine with Crotale air-defence systems “to allow them to defend their skies”.
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