Situation in Ukraine’s east ‘getting tougher’: Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the situation on Ukraine's eastern front lines is becoming tougher as Russian troops push for a significant battlefield victory in the region.
The Ukrainian president made the remarks in a nightly video address on Saturday. Russian forces have been working to close their grip on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and the nearby coal-mining city of Vuhledar located in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk.
"I’ve often had to say the situation at the front is tough, and is getting tougher, and it’s that time again," Zelensky said.
He said the circumstances in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Lyman and other directions were "very difficult now."
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar claimed in a post on Telegram earlier in the day that Russian efforts to break the defenses in Bakhmut and Lyman had failed.
Shelling continues in Donetsk. In the southern region of Odesa, an accident at a power plant left nearly 50,000 homes without electricity.
EU prepares more Russia sanctions
Meanwhile, the European Union is set to unveil its 10th package of sanctions against Russia on February 24 to mark the anniversary of the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement at a news conference in Kiev on Friday. The sanctions will target technology used by Russia’s war machine, among other things, von der Leyen said, adding they will take aim in particular at components used in the manufacturing of drones.
She said, "closing loopholes that the Kremlin uses to circumvent sanctions will also be a priority."
MG
