The war in Ukraine marks 331 days this Friday since Russia began the invasion with its forces attacking the surroundings of Soledar to encircle Bakhmut. Ukraine maintains that its troops continue to attack the rival army in the area.

One of the fiercest clashes takes place in Klishchiivka. By capturing this settlement, Russia would be able to gain access to one of Bakhmut’s central roads and encircle the city from the south.

Pressure from Ukraine and other allies on Germany to get Leopard tanks shipped continues to mount.

LIVE:

• The Contact Group for Ukraine, comprised of Kiev’s Western allies, will meet today at the US base in Ramstein (Germany) for a ministerial meeting focused on the demand for increased military support for Ukraine against Russia, including the supply of Leopard tanks.
• UN member countries are preparing two major gatherings to mark the first anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including a special appointment at the General Assembly that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could attend, diplomatic sources have confirmed.
• The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, has assured that no authority in the country has threatened to use nuclear weapons. “Frankly, we have long ceased to be surprised by the empty and irresponsible accusations that our country is allegedly threatening to use nuclear weapons. “No one in the Russian political and military leadership has ever spoken in this way,” he said.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has indicated that a nuclear accident could occur “at any moment” at the Ukrainian Zaporizhia power plant, under Russian control, and has insisted on the need for an agreement to establish a safety zone in your surroundings. “We know every day that a nuclear accident or an accident with serious radiological consequences can happen any day; that’s why I’m so worried,” said IAEA director Rafael Grossi.
• Sergei Lavrov has claimed that the United States has formed a Western “coalition” to “resolve the Russian question” in a similar way to Adolf Hitler’s “final solution” to exterminate the Jews.
• The director of the National Intelligence Agency of the United States (CIA), William Burns, met last week in secret with the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky, to convey his forecasts about Russia’s plans, The Washington Post reported. According to the outlet, Burns stressed that this is a key moment on the battlefield and admitted that there will come a time when it will be more difficult to obtain funds.
• The US Department of Defense has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to $2.5 billion. In addition, this new aid includes 59 Bradley fighting vehicles and 90 Stryker armoured personnel carriers.
• Good evening; the minute-by-minute narrative of the war in Ukraine continues here, which this Friday turns 331 days old. Here you can read what happened this Thursday.