Ukraine-Russia war: ‘Significant losses’ for Putin as Kyiv vows more drone strikes

Five civilians were killed and one wounded as a result of intense Ukrainian shelling of the Donetsk region, a Russian-installed official said.

The five were killed yesterday in the Kirov and Kuibyshevskyi districts and a woman was injured in Svetlodarsk, said Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the region.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported heavy fighting and partial success of its forces as part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive to reclaim land occupied by Russia in its 19-month invasion.

Ukraine’s ministry of defence has claimed that its forces have taken back the village of Andriivka in Bakhmut region.

“The unwelcome «guests» in Andriivka are being removed by the 3rd Assault Brigade,” the account tweeted on Saturday night.

However, these facts were disputed by the Russian side.

Earlier on Saturday, the account of fighting by Russia’s defence ministry said its troops were still holding at least two key villages south of Bakhmut, known in Russia by its Soviet-era name, Artyomovsk.

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has extended his trip to Russia for an undisclosed period of time as he continues to be taken on tours of the facilities feeding Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

The hermit kingdom’s ruler is on his first excursion outside of North Korea since before the Covid pandemic, and appeared to revel in the opportunity to see aerial demonstrations of Russia Su-35 fighter jets on Friday, as well as getting a peek inside a cockpit.

Russian forces stationed in the Arctic near Norway are “20 per cent or less” of the number they were before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Norway’s chief of defence said on Saturday.

Norway is part of NATO and shares a border with Russia in the Arctic. The Nordic country borders the Kola Peninsula, home to most of Russia’s nuclear weapons as well as its Northern Fleet, which operates Russia’s nuclear submarines.

Speaking after a meeting of the chiefs of defence of NATO countries held in Oslo, general Eirik Kristoffersen said Russian president Vladimir Putin knew “very well” that NATO was not a threat to Russia.

“On our border, on the Russian border, there is maybe 20% or less (Russian) forces left than it used to be before Feb. 24, 2022,” he told a press conference.

“If he believed that we were threatening Russia, he couldn’t have moved on his troops to Ukraine to fight the war there.”

Russia on Saturday said its forces remained in control of villages near the shattered city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, dismissing a Ukrainian claim to have recaptured the locality of Andriivka, a stepping stone to the larger city.

The commander of Ukraine’s land forces posted a video purporting to show the capture of Andriivka amid a landscape of scorched territory and devastation.

And a top military spokesperson said Ukrainian troops were making headway in both the east and south — the two main theatres of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the 18-month-old war against Russian invaders.

The account of fighting by Russia’s defence ministry said its troops were still holding at least two key villages south of Bakhmut, known in Russia by its Soviet-era name, Artyomovsk.

North Korea may be able to boost Russia’s supply of artillery munitions for the war in Ukraine, but that is not likely to make a big difference, a top US military general has said.

US Army general Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke as he arrived in Norway for NATO meetings that began Saturday and will focus in part on the conflict.

He said the recent meeting in Russia between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian president Vladimir Putin will probably lead North Korea to provide Soviet-era 152 mm artillery rounds to Moscow. But he said it was not yet clear how many or how soon.

“Would it have a huge difference? I’m skeptical of that,” General Milley told reporters traveling with him. He said that while he does not want to play down the weapons assistance too much, “I doubt that it would be decisive.”

Foreign governments and experts have speculated that Kim will likely supply ammunition to Russia in exchange for receiving advanced weapons or technology from Russia.

Ukraine’s ministry of defence has said that more than 271,000 Russian soldiers have now died in combat.

“Success is no accident,” a quote attributed to Pele reads on their Twitter. “It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

The figures contradict Russia’s own tally and could not be verified.

Eighty-six defense companies from 21 countries have confirmed their participation in Ukraine’s first Defence Industries Forum.

“The event will help Ukraine’s defense industry integrate with those of our NATO allies and other partners, ramp up production, and establish new high-tech partnerships,” Volodymyr Zeelensky tweeted.

Ukraine’s president added: “I thank everyone throughout the world who helps us enhance our shared security, as well as those who are willing to work in Ukraine. Together, we are gaining strength to protect life and freedom.”

Thousands of supporters of a pro-Russian Czech opposition party gathered in Prague on Saturday to protest against the country’s centre-right government.

The protest was called by the PRO movement, which has taken a nationalist, anti-Western stance.

News agency CTK estimated a turnout of around 10,000 people. PRO leader Jindrich Raichl told the crowd in Prague’s Wencelas Square that they had a “puppet government”.

Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine – sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fight Russia’s invasion.

Here are some pictures from the protest: