Ukraine says combating has “intensified” within the east of the nation as Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Kyiv’s counteroffensive as a failure.
A high Ukrainian defence official mentioned on Sunday that Russian forces and Ukrainian troops had been clashing in not less than three areas on the jap entrance.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar mentioned on Telegram that Russian forces have been attacking within the route of Kupiansk within the Kharkiv area for 2 successive days.
“We’re on the defensive,” Maliar wrote. “There are fierce battles. The positions of either side change dynamically a number of occasions a day.”
Maliar additionally mentioned that the 2 armies had been pummelling each other across the ruined metropolis of Bakhmut, however that Ukrainian forces had been “progressively transferring ahead” alongside its southern flank.
She mentioned that Kyiv’s troops had been additionally warding off Russian assaults close to Avdiivka and Marinka.
Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig, reporting from Kostyantynivka, about 20km (12.4 miles) from Bakhmut, mentioned Maliar’s description of fierce combating and altering positions was “sobering”.
“That’s fairly trustworthy from the Ukrainian deputy defence minister as a result of what we usually hear is in regards to the Ukrainian advances, however what we’re listening to from the Ukrainians is that the Russians are pushing again,” Baig mentioned.
In an excerpt of an interview revealed on Sunday, Putin mentioned the Ukrainian army has made no progress in its counteroffensive, which goals to retake occupied territory and seize the initiative in Russia’s full-scale invasion, which is in its seventeenth month.
“All enemy makes an attempt to interrupt by means of our defences … they haven’t succeeded for the reason that offensive started. The enemy isn’t profitable,” Putin mentioned in a clip revealed by state broadcaster Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.
Ukraine final month started its extremely anticipated counteroffensive after stockpiling Western weapons and increase its offensive forces.
It has, nevertheless, admitted troublesome battles and referred to as on america and different allies to offer long-range weapons and artillery.
Putin additionally mentioned Russia had a “adequate stockpile” of cluster bombs and that Moscow reserved the precise to make use of them if such munitions had been used towards Russian forces in Ukraine.
In his first feedback on the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the US, Putin mentioned that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its struggle in Ukraine up to now. “Till now, we’ve got not accomplished this, we’ve got not used it, and we’ve got not had such a necessity,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, in April 2022, Russia was accused of utilizing cluster munitions within the Kramatorsk railway station assault, which killed 63 civilians, 9 of them youngsters.
Grain deal expiry looms
Putin has but to announce whether or not Moscow will renew the grain deal that allowed the resumption of Ukrainian exports by means of the Black Sea, quickly halted when the invasion started in February 2022.
Set to run out late on Monday, the deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey and signed by Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to determine a protected sea hall through which Ukrainian agricultural items might attain international markets.
Russia, nevertheless, says obstacles to its personal exports stay, and has threatened to tug out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
On Saturday, the Kremlin mentioned Russia nonetheless had issues in regards to the deal.
“Vladimir Putin burdened that the obligations … to take away obstacles to the export of Russian meals and fertilisers nonetheless stay unfulfilled,” a Kremlin assertion mentioned.
“The primary objective of the deal, specifically the availability of grain to international locations in want, together with on the African continent, has not been carried out,” it mentioned.
UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres helps eradicating hurdles to Russia exporting its fertilisers and despatched Putin a letter on the topic on Tuesday.
By making certain the safety of maritime cargo site visitors within the Black Sea – together with inspections to counter arms shipments – the deal has allowed the export of practically 33 million tonnes of grain because it entered into drive on August 1, 2022. Most shipments had been comprised of wheat and maize.
The accord helped carry down costs that had shot increased following Russia’s invasion and keep away from starvation in international locations closely dependent upon imports.
