All the latest developments in the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive is progressing slowly, with military officials reporting that troops have advanced nearly two kilometers in a week in the Melitopol region.
Ukrainian President Zelensky acknowledged that the slow progress reflected the difficulties the counteroffensive faced in light of strong Russian opposition.
“We all need to understand very clearly – as clearly as possible – that Russian forces are investing everything they can to stop our soldiers on our southern and eastern lands,” he explained. “Each thousand-meter advance, each victory of each of our combat squadrons deserves thanks.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Friday that its forces had repelled 16 Ukrainian military attacks in Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, and three more in the direction of Krasny Lyman.
The Wagner group trains Belarusian players
Fighters from the private military company Wagner are training Belarusian soldiers in Belarus, the country’s Defense Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry’s television channel, Von TV, showed footage of Wagner mercenaries in black masks instructing members of the Belarusian army.
The video shows the militants training Belarusian soldiers on how to fire and provide medical aid.
After the failed ‘plot’ by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, many of his mercenaries arrived in Belarus and set up camps.
The Pentagon says the Wagner group as a whole did not fight in Ukraine, although many members stayed in occupied parts of Ukraine.
