Ukrainian army snipers position themselves against Russian troops near Bakhmut.
(Photo: dpa)
Kyiv According to a war correspondent for Russian state television, the Russian troops fighting in Bakhmut are on the highest alert. Because of the Ukrainian attack successes on the flanks of the Wagner mercenary force fighting in the city, there is a risk of comprehensive encirclement, Yevgeny Poddubny wrote on Telegram on Thursday. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had previously warned several times of an impending cauldron due to unsecured flanks.
The Ukrainian army spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyj reported in the evening of desperate attempts by the Russian units to stop the further advance of the Ukrainians with massive artillery strikes and airstrikes. The intensity of the fighting has increased, said Cherevatyj, according to the Unian agency. On Thursday alone, 165 Russian soldiers were killed and another 216 wounded, he claimed. His information could not be verified, nor could that of the other party.
Also fight at Soledar
Prominent war correspondent Poddubny also reported Ukrainian breakthroughs in fighting around Soledar, which is only a few kilometers northeast of Bakhmut. There, Ukrainian combat groups managed to break through the Russian lines. “The situation is difficult,” wrote Poddubny. Russian forces only took Soledar at the end of January after weeks of heavy fighting.
The Ukrainian military leadership has not provided any information on this so far, only speaking of heavy fighting near Bakhmut. In the evening, the Russian military reported heavy fighting and repeated attacks by Ukrainian units on various sectors of the front.
Nuclear boss: Ukraine can bypass Zaporizhia nuclear plant in counteroffensive
According to the operator, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant could be spared in the event of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. It is enough to cut off the Russian occupying forces in the power plant from the hinterland, Petro Kotin, head of the Ukrainian nuclear company Enerhoatom, told US broadcaster CNN.
“All we have to do is cut the connection between the Zaporizhia NPP and the (Black Sea Peninsula) Crimea,” Kotin said. This will be achieved as soon as the Ukrainian troops have captured the city of Melitopol, a good 90 kilometers south-east of the power plant in Enerhodar. After that, the Russian troops would only have the option of fleeing or surrendering.
The six-block largest nuclear power plant in Europe in Enerhodar was occupied immediately after the Russian invasion in March last year.
Swiss parliament wants to revise war material law
After massive criticism from abroad, the Swiss parliament wants to ease the previous ban on the transfer of Swiss war material to third countries. The responsible committee in the Council of States, the second chamber of parliament, voted in favor of this on Thursday with eight to five votes. The Commission of the National Council had previously voted in favor of it. This means that an amendment to the War Material Act can now be tackled.
Switzerland is currently prohibiting the transfer of war material that it has sold abroad to countries involved in armed conflicts. This is currently hampering deliveries to Ukraine. For example, Switzerland refused Germany permission to forward Swiss ammunition purchased years ago for the German Gepard tank to the Ukraine.
Reports: Zelenski could visit Rome and Vatican at the weekend
According to Italian media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering a visit to Rome at the weekend. There he could meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and also be received by Pope Francis, according to the Ansa news agency on Thursday evening. This relied on sources in the government and within the Vatican. There were no official confirmations. Recently, it was also expected that the Ukrainian President would come to Berlin towards the end of the week.
This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:
Zelensky wants to adapt Ukrainian criminal law for EU accession
For Ukraine’s path to the European Union, Zelensky has drawn up a “comprehensive strategic plan” to reform the criminal law and the law enforcement system. “Put simply, we need to ensure a law and order system for our country that is consistent with our goal of Ukraine’s speedy accession to the EU,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Thursday.
That will be important on Friday
The foreign ministers of the EU states will discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine at an informal meeting in Sweden this Friday. The focus of the talks is continued support for the country attacked by Russia. At least marginally, it should also be about proposals from the EU Commission for an eleventh package of sanctions against Russia. Above all, it is intended to combat the circumvention of the penal measures that have already been issued.
More: Current news on the development of the Ukraine war can be found in our news blog