The Ukrainian military maintained their positions in Bakhmut despite the ongoing conflict, while Moscow reported that its security forces had engaged in a battle with Ukrainian saboteurs who had taken hostages following a cross-border raid. The Russian FSB claimed the situation had been brought under control in Bryansk Province, which lies just north of the Ukrainian border. Earlier, Moscow accused armed Ukrainians of crossing the frontier, attacking a car, killing one individual, wounding a child, and holding hostages in a shop. President Vladimir Putin stated in a brief television address that the attackers had intentionally targeted civilians in the vehicle, but added that they will not succeed and that Russia will crush them, describing Russian forces as fighting “terrorists and neo-Nazis.” Ukrainian forces appear to have strengthened their defensive positions by digging new trenches 20-40 meters apart on nearby roadside towns and villages. On the other hand, Russian troops, including reservists and convicts recruited by the Wagner private army boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, are continuing to advance north and south of the city to cut it off. Moscow claims taking Bakhmut would be a step toward seizing the rest of the surrounding Donbass region, with Kyiv arguing that the city has limited strategic value but is exhausting Russia’s invasion force in what has become the bloodiest battle of the war. In the meantime, the reported raid by armed men calling themselves the “Russian Volunteer Corps” has taken place in Lubechanye, near the border in Russia’s Bryansk Province, raising tensions in the region.
Ukraine holds Bakhmut, Russia fights saboteurs in border raid.
