The Ongoing Battle for Bakhmut: Russian Troops Face Heavy Losses.

Russian military bloggers are concerned about Moscow's ability to handle an imminent Ukrainian counteroffensive around Bakhmut, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Increasing discussions about a counteroffensive suggest that Russian sources are increasingly uncertain about the Russian military's ability to maintain the initiative. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Moscow on Monday for talks with his Russian counterpart which could see Beijing act as a peacemaker in the war.