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The Ukrainian army said its forces outside the key city of Bakhmut are still holding the line to defend the eastern city. The army said food, medicines, and equipment could still be delivered to Ukrainian forces.
Speaking on the ICTV television channel on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military Serhiy Cherevaty said Ukrainian forces are still able to hold the line at Bakhmut, the key town where heavy fighting has been taking place for months. Cherevaty added that Ukrainian scouts and counter artillery fire were helping keep some roads into the city open. Pro-Kyiv forces have also shot down two Russian drones and destroyed five Russian ammunition hubs on Friday, according to Cherevaty.
“We are managing to deliver the necessary munitions, food, gear, and medicines to Bakhmut. We are also managing to take our wounded out of the city,” said Cherevaty.
Moscow has made capturing Bakhmut a key priority in its strategy to seize control of the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. The city has largely been bombarded, with Russia making multiple offensives. Kyiv said its troops have so far killed 193 Russian soldiers, injuring 199 others during the months of fighting on Friday.
The tallying of casualties follows the numbers previously announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy said Russian forces have so far suffered over 1,100 dead in less than a week of battles that have been taking place in Bakhmut.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the United Nations announced that the Turkey and UN-brokered deal that allowed the exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea was renewed as the deal was set to expire on Saturday. The agreement to renew the deal was made following talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials, according to Erdogan, but did not specify the duration of the deal.
Moscow said it agreed to a 60-day extension, while the Ukrainian infrastructure minister said the deal was extended for 120 days. The original deal that was made in July last year saw over 11 million tons of agricultural products shipped from three of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including 4.5 million tons of corn and 3.2 million tons of wheat.
