Ukrainian Forces Push Back Russian Troops in Bakhmut

Ukrainian troops have pushed back Russian forces in Bakhmut, with the battle for the Donetsk town continuing ahead of an imminent Kyiv counteroffensive. The Ukrainian commander reported that his troops had repelled numerous assaults, with the enemy suffering losses and 10 enemy soldiers captured. The situation remains complicated, with Russian troops still making gains in some parts of the city, but their advances have slowed. The stakes for both sides are high, with success for Kyiv expected to bolster the justification for continued Western support and widen the gap between Russia's ability to wage war and Ukraine's to defend itself and take back occupied lands.