The founder of the Russian mercenary organisation Wagner attributed his forces' ongoing failure to take control of the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to a shortage of shells and military assistance.
Yevgeny Prigozhin stated in a statement released by his press office on Telegram, "I'm knocking on all doors, raising the alarm regarding ammo and reinforcements, as well as urging them to cover our flanks.
In order to defend Bakhmut, a city in the east whose takeover by Russia could give it the momentum for additional advances, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy previously instructed his military commander to call in more forces.
Germany Rejects Vance Criticism (9 a.m.)
J. D. Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, criticised Berlin's actions during the conflict as "disgraceful," and he questioned why "American taxpayers subsidise foolish German energy strategy and inadequate defence policy." Germany's ambassador to the US retaliated against Vance.
In response, Ambassador Emily Haber noted that Germany is the EU's "biggest weapons supplier" to Ukraine and that it has set up a fund worth €100 billion ($107 billion) to aid in military modernization. Haber tweeted, "We'll spend it. Yet tanks are not available at Costco.
US, EU Discussed Disrupting Russian Diamond Trade (7 a.m.)
According to a statement, representatives from the diamond industry met with officials from the US State Department and the European Commission to examine Russia's trade in precious stones and the best measures to prevent revenue from it.
Read more: G-7 and EU Examining Techniques for Tracing Russian Diamonds
The State Department noted that Russia "continues to reap billions of dollars through the diamond trade, and the debate focused on the most efficient and significant measures to undermine that cash stream.
Zelenskiy Vows to Hold Bakhmut (9:44 p.m.)
Zelenskiy claimed that despite Russian accomplishments in encircling the beleaguered city on three sides, when he asked his top military officials on Monday whether Ukraine should withdraw from Bakhmut, they all unanimously backed its continuing defence.
The president had previously stated that his soldiers would not retain the city "at any cost and with everyone dying," and that "the enemy is systematically destroying everything that can be utilised to secure our positions, for reinforcement, and for defence."
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