Ukraine braces for counteroffensive as Russian-backed forces advance in Bakhmut.

The head of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, visited a cemetery where the group's fighters are buried and admitted that the cemetery is "growing." Wagner forces have been spearheading offensives in eastern Ukraine, including on the city of Bakhmut, which has become the longest and bloodiest battle of Russia's military campaign. Russian authorities have not given updated estimates of the losses since September 2022, when the Defense Ministry counted 5,937 dead.