Russia-Ukraine conflict: UK says Russia continues assault in Bakhmut area

The United Kingdom’s defense ministry said this week that Russia has continued its assaults in the Bakhmut area in eastern Ukraine in the last four days. However, Russian forces apparently did not make quick progress in their offensive.

The UK’s defense ministry said in an intelligence update Monday that Russian forces are continuing their tactical assault in the Bakhmut area of eastern Ukraine.

The UK added that Russia was likely adjusting the operational design of its offensive in the Donbas region and likely identified the Zaporizhzhia front as vulnerable and in need of reinforcements.

“As briefed by the Ukrainian authorities last week, Russia is likely relocating a significant number of its forces from the northern Donbas sector to southern Ukraine,” said the ministry.

This comes as Russia seeks to capture Ukraine’s eastern and southern territories. The eastern territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region have pro-Russian separatists.

On the same day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia’s actions around the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine are “the height of irresponsibility.” Blinken also accused Moscow of trying to use the power plant as a “nuclear shield” in its attacks on Ukrainian troops.

Following nuclear nonproliferation discussions in the United Nations, Blinken said Washington was “concerned” that Moscow was using the plant as a military base and attacked Ukrainian forces from the area.

“Of course, the Ukrainians cannot fire back lest there be a terrible accident involving the nuclear plant,” said Blinken. Ukraine has previously accused Russia of basing its troops and storing its military equipment in the power plant.

Ukraine’s deputy foreign affairs minister Mykola Tochytskyi said that “robust joint actions” are needed to prevent a major nuclear disaster from happening. Tochytskyi also called for the international community to close the skies over Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

The Pentagon also said that it will be providing Ukraine with a new military assistance package worth up to $550 million. This would include additional ammunition for the previously provided HIMARS rocket systems.

“To meet its evolving battlefield requirements, the United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities,” said the Pentagon in a statement.