Ukrainian forces hold their ground in heavy street fighting as bombardment continues in the eastern city of Sheverodonetsk. Russia is also set to use the death penalty imposed on two British militants to intensify pressure on a prisoner exchange with a close personal friend of Vladimir Putin. See what happened overnight – and you can follow the latest updates on our live blog.
1. Ukraine holding its positions in intense street battles
Ukrainian defenders continue to block Russian efforts to seize control of the hard-fought eastern city of Sheverodonetsk. The army said Ukrainian forces had successfully repulsed a Russian attack on the village of Toshkivka, in the northwestern suburbs of Severodonetsk. “The occupiers, with the help of motorized rifle and artillery units, carried out offensive operations in the city of Severodonetsk. They were not successful; the fighting continues,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a regular briefing on Thursday. afternoon. The Ukrainian governor of the eastern Luhansk region, where Sheverodonetsk is located, said on Thursday that “fierce fighting” continued to flood the city. In a Telegram post, Serhii Haidai said Russian forces were bombing the neighboring city of Lysychansk using large weapons that “pierce even the concrete.” “It is extremely dangerous for citizens to remain, even in shelters,” Haidai said. In his overnight video speech, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation on the front lines was “without significant change”.
