The Russian army is attempting to expand its control over more Ukrainian territories, while Kyiv's forces continue to resist supported by military and logistical aid from the West. The TASS news agency reported that Russian troops in Bakhmut have taken complete control of the industrial zone, with pro-Russian authorities in Donetsk confirming that Russian forces are advancing in the Avdiivka area. Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence stated that Russia has lost many of its tanks while trying to besiege Avdiivka in Donetsk, noting that Russia has only made marginal progress there.
Today, Ukrainian forces targeted the Kuybishchev area in Donetsk city with heavy artillery shelling. The representative office of the Donetsk People's Republic at the Joint Center for Monitoring and Coordinating Issues Related to War Crimes in Ukraine reported via Telegram: "Ukrainian armed forces resumed shelling of Donetsk city, targeting the Kuybishchev area."
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that its navy launched hypersonic anti-ship missiles at a dummy target in the Sea of Japan. It added that two Moskit cruise missiles successfully hit a target located about 100 kilometers away with a direct strike. The P-270 Moskit is a supersonic, medium-range cruise missile of Soviet origin capable of destroying a ship from a distance of up to 120 kilometers. This missile launch comes a week after two Russian strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear warheads flew over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours in what Moscow stated was a "planned" mission.
The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces stated in a video released today that Ukraine aims to inflict heavy losses on Russian troops attempting to seize the small city of Bakhmut in the eastern part of the country. In the video, showing him addressing soldiers in what appears to be a large industrial warehouse, General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russia continues to focus on the Bakhmut area after months of fighting. He added, "As of today, our main task is to exhaust enemy forces and inflict heavy losses upon them. This will create the necessary conditions to help liberate Ukrainian territories and accelerate our victory." Syrskyi is conducting meetings with troops near the frontline as Ukraine prepares for a potential counter-offensive after 13 months of war. He noted that his visits to meet forces near the frontline are essential for him and his leaders to agree on plans that will have "real outcomes on the battlefield but not on the maps."
On the other hand, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov stated today that potential drone attacks on the energy infrastructure in the country pose a serious threat to Russia's energy security. Shulginov did not specifically name Ukraine, but Russia claims to have thwarted several Ukrainian attempts to launch drone attacks in recent months. Kyiv has not announced any strikes on targets within Russia but senior officials in Kyiv have at times welcomed news of successful Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory. Shulginov, speaking during a roundtable meeting discussing the security of Russian energy facilities, stated, "The main threat now is illegal interventions using drones." He added that he is cooperating with the Russian Ministry of Defence and the Federal Security Service regarding this issue.
Previously, Russia has reported drone attacks in several of its cities, some located hundreds of kilometers from its border with Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated on Sunday that it repelled a drone attack in a town 220 kilometers south of Moscow, causing the drone to crash over residential houses in the town of Kireyevsk.
