The Ukrainian military will send reinforcements to the besieged city of Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks overnight, belying earlier reports that Ukrainian forces might be preparing a retreat. Russia, for its part, is hoping a seizure of the city will mark its first major battlefield gain in more than six months and offer a stepping stone for recapturing the surrounding Donbas region. Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
<!-- wp:html --><p>The Ukrainian military will send reinforcements to the besieged city of Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks overnight, belying earlier reports that Ukrainian forces might be preparing a retreat. Russia, for its part, is hoping a seizure of the city will mark its first major battlefield gain in more than six months and offer a stepping stone for recapturing the surrounding Donbas region. Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).</p><!-- /wp:html -->