War in Ukraine: Kiev registers 'tactical success' towards Bahmut, according to US experts
Six people have been killed and five wounded in a Russian shell attack on the Ukrainian town of Liman. Meanwhile, Kiev is registering a "tactical success" in the direction of Bahmut, according to American specialists at the Institute for the Study of War. On the 500th anniversary of the start of the war, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski paid a symbolic visit to Snake Island. There, he laid flowers in memory of defenders killed in Russian bombing raids. Meanwhile, the US has confirmed it will provide Ukraine with cluster munitions for its counter-offensive against Kremlin forces.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive has made "tactically significant" gains in the Bahmut area, with Kiev forces continuing operations in at least three other frontline sectors. The Institute for the Study of War says geo-located imagery showed Ukrainian defenders gained substantial ground near villages north and south of Bahmut, regaining control of previously lost positions in the area. And the British Ministry of Defence says in an assessment this morning that the fighting in Bahmut over the past seven days has been some of the most intense on the front as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive in the Russian-controlled town. Military officials confirmed the continuation of offensive operations in western Zaporozhye region and along the border between Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions. The Russian Defence Ministry and other Russian sources said that Ukrainian forces had conducted offensive operations in the direction of Kreminna along the Kharkov-Lugansk border.
Meanwhile, President Volodimir Zelenski was on Snake Island and recorded a video address to Ukrainians on the 500th day of the war.
"Today, we are on the Snake Island, which will never be conquered by the occupier, just like the whole of Ukraine, because we are a country of the brave. Today, we honoured here our Ukrainian heroes - all the soldiers who fought for this island, who liberated it. Although this is a small piece of land in the middle of the Black Sea, it is a great proof that Ukraine will regain every bit of its territory. I want to thank from here, from this place of victory, each and every one of our soldiers for these 500 days", President Volodimir Zelenski stressed.
The UN deplored the loss of civilian life as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as fighting entered its 500th day, according to Agerpres. More than 9,000 civilians, including 500 children, have been killed since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said. However, UN officials had previously said the actual number of casualties could be much higher.
At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during his meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski, that he officially supports Ukraine's accession to NATO. On the other hand, US presidential adviser Jake Sullivan told a press conference that Ukraine needs to take several steps before joining NATO. The United States also officially announced on Friday that it would send Ukraine cluster munitions as part of a security assistance package, a move that Ukraine said would have an "extraordinary psycho-emotional impact" on Russian occupation forces.
