Russia is focusing its offensive operations in 3 key areas in eastern Ukraine, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported. Russia is concentrating its efforts on capturing all of Donetsk oblast by targeting the eastern areas of Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Lyman, the general staff said.

Russia and Wagner are “likely in control of most of” Soledar amid fierce fighting for the Donbas town, the UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest update. Russia and Wagner have made tactical advances in the last 4 days, the ministry said, in what it described as “highly likely an effort to envelop Bakhmut from the north, and to disrupt lines of communication”.

Ukraine is reinforcing its positions around Bakhmut, after days of relentless assaults by Russian forces spearheaded by the Wagner mercenary group. Ukrainian president said that Bakhmut and Soledar were holding on despite widespread destruction. He cited new attacks in Soledar, where he said no walls have been left standing and the land is covered with Russian corpses.

Russia’s security council secretary, Nikolai Patrushev, said the conflict in Ukraine is a military confrontation between Russia and NATO. Patrushev said the west was trying to cleave Russia apart and “eventually just erase it from the political map of the world”.

Britain is considering supplying a handful of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, the first time a western country has indicated it may supply its homemade heavy armour to Kyiv in the war against Russia. No final decision by Downing Street has been made, British sources added.

The US is reportedly considering sending Stryker armoured combat vehicles to Ukraine. The move could be announced next week, but no final decision has been made, Politico reported.

Germany has no plans to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, a government spokesperson has said. Robert Habeck, Germany’s economy minister, said that Berlin could not rule out the delivery of Leopard tanks to support Ukrainian military forces in the future.