War in Ukraine // Russian forces advance in Bahmut. Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Sumy region, recaptured from the Russians
Russian forces are advancing into Bahmut, despite strong resistance, and have taken almost full control of the metallurgical plant there, Russia's installed leader in the region claims. Kiev says the situation remains complicated, but the defenders are resisting the attacks.
The enemy trying to encircle the town of Avdiivka has made only small progress in recent days, despite heavy losses of armored vehicles. According to the British Ministry of Defence, a Russian tank regiment has lost a large part of its armor. The intensity of the enemy's attacks in southern Ukraine decreased considerably after the Ukrainian forces managed to destroy a substantial part of their warehouses and ammunition stocks in the area. The Sumî region is also constantly bombed.
In the town of Belopolie, the last attack destroyed several houses, an apartment building and a school.
"That's it, you can't live in this house anymore!", "I was sleeping and I woke up." “Fighting, but it is not clear with whom. They choose the targets at random, shoot where they can," say the local people.
The blasts also damaged the city's school, for the third time since the start of the war, says the school's principal. More than 100 windows were broken. Some residents are moving from the destroyed houses to relatives.
The Sumy region was visited by the Ukrainian president to mark the anniversary of its recapture. In the first weeks of the invasion, fierce fighting took place in several cities in this area, including Ahtîrka.
Volodymyr Zelensky gave the locality the honorary title of "Hero City", he met with the soldiers of the border guard units, to whom he handed state awards.
"Strong positions along the entire border with the terrorist state are a consequence of the strength of our people who are ready to defend their borders at any time," Zelenskiy said.
On the diplomatic front, Ukraine's foreign minister attended a virtual session of the US-led Democracy Summit, and President Zelenskiy is inviting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Ukraine.
Moscow, on the other hand, says it is ready for peace talks, but says security issues are central to it and continues tactical exercises. Russia started exercises with the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system and several thousand troops, a new attempt by Moscow to show its nuclear power, Western analysts say.
