An elite Russian infantry force reportedly suffered heavy losses in a failed assault on the town of Vuhledar, according to satellite images claiming to show a formation of vehicles destroyed.
British military intelligence released photographs on Sunday claiming to show at least ten armoured vehicles burned out in the snow pockmarked by mortar craters to the southeast of the town.
“These vehicles were likely elements of Russia’s 155th Naval Infantry (NI) Brigade which has been at the forefront of recent costly offensives,” the Ministry of Defence said.
“The supposedly enhanced capability of NI brigades has now almost certainly been significantly degraded because it has been backfilled with inexperienced mobilised personnel.”
Vuhledar, some 100 miles southwest of Bakhmut, has become one of the focal points of Russia’s renewed offensive to capture more territory in the Donbas.
11:13 AM
Germany: No movement in Nato guarantees for Ukraine
There has been no development for months in the discussion of possible Nato security guarantees for Ukraine, a German government spokesperson said on Sunday.
“At the recent meeting of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron with Ukrainian leader Zelensky, this issue played no role at all,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The statement follows a recent report by The Wall Street Journal that said some of Nato’s biggest European members are floating a defense pact with Ukraine.
11:04 AM
Pictured: A Ukrainian marine serviceman prepares to change position during a patrol in Vuhledar
10:43 AM
Emmanuel Macron announces China visit to increase pressure on Putin
Emmanuel Macron is to visit China in April in an attempt to convince Beijing to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
The French president’s announcement on Saturday came a day after China called for urgent peace talks and unveiled a 12 point plan to end the year-long war.
Several Western powers rebuffed the proposals for a “political settlement” to the crisis sparked by Russia’s illegal invasion and warned Beijing was too close to Moscow.
Read more from James Crisp, The Telegraph’s Europe Editor, here
10:21 AM
Russian factories working overtime to make hi-tech weapons, claims Putin ally
Russia is expanding its defence production and introducing the “latest technologies” in its weapons factories, according to a key ally of Vladimir Putin.
It came amid further signs that Moscow is cosying up to Beijing, with Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, set to visit China in the coming days following reports that a drone deal may be under way.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, mocked Western intelligence reports that Moscow was running short of weapons and ammunition, and having to fall back on basic Cold War kit.
Read more from James Kilner here
10:06 AM
Comment: Stopping Moscow’s oil and gas exports is the route to victory in Ukraine
One year on from Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion and nine years into Russia’s aggression, Ukraine stands strong, united and determined.
The Kremlin underestimated the bravery and heroism of the Ukrainian people.
Our whole nation is grateful to the British people, Government and Parliament for assisting our defence against Putin’s neo-imperialist regime.
This war has become a common fight for democratic values, rules-based order, sustainable peace and security.
Read more from Petro Poroshenko here
09:47 AM
Putin accuses Nato members of taking part in Ukraine conflict
Vladimir Putin has accused Nato members of taking part in the Ukraine conflict by donating arms to the country and said the West planned to break up Russia.
“They are sending tens of billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine. This really is participation,” the Russian president said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 channel aired on Sunday.
“This means that they are taking part, albeit indirectly, in the crimes being carried out by the Kyiv regime,” Putin said.
He said Western countries had “a single aim – to break up the former Soviet Union and its main part – the Russian Federation”.
“Only then will they maybe accept us in the so-called family of civilised peoples but only separately, every part separately.”
09:39 AM
Pictured: Demonstrators in Washington march in support of Ukraine during a rally
09:27 AM
Ukraine ‘strikes Russian ammunition depot in Mariupol’
Ukrainian forces blew up a Russian ammunition depot near Mariupol, a local official claimed on Saturday, a city previously considered too far behind the frontline to strike.
Social media channels reportedly showed large explosions lighting up the night sky above the occupied city.
Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the ousted Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, said that the explosions were the result of a Ukrainian attack on an ammunition store.
Read more from James Kilner here
09:26 AM
Ukraine military says Russian offensive near Yahidne unsuccessful
Ukraine’s military said on Sunday that Russia conducted unsuccessful offensives near Yahidne over the past day, after Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claimed to have captured the village in eastern Ukraine near the focus on intense fighting.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a morning update that Russia keeps concentrating its offensive efforts along the entire Bakhmut front line, were Yahidne is located.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary leader, said on Saturday his forces had captured Yahidne. On Friday, he had claimed control of Berkhivka, an adjacent village on the outskirts of Bakhmut.
But the Ukrainian bulletin said attacks were continuing, citing “unsuccessful offensives” near six settlements, including Yahidne and Berkhivka, in the Donetsk region, which Moscow claims to have annexed.
Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports of either side.
09:24 AM
Good Morning
Good morning and welcome to today’s Ukraine liveblog.
We will be guiding you through all the latest updates on Ukraine.
