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.
11:40 AM
Algeria to reopen its embassy in Kyiv after one-year closure
Algeria will reopen its embassy in Kyiv one year after it was closed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Algerian state television said on Sunday citing a foreign ministry statement.
“This decision falls within the framework of preserving the interests of the Algerian state and the interests of the national community in this country,” state TV quoted the foreign ministry statement as saying.
“The Algerian embassy in Kiev, which suspended its activities due to the deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, will be managed by the Chargé d’Affaires.”
The embassy closed in March last year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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,…
Read More: Satellite pictures show elite Russian unit ‘destroyed’