Following Russia's denials, Ukraine claims victories in Bakhmut.

Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of Russian gains. Russia claims its troops have regrouped in one area, but there is no clear evidence of an Ukrainian counter-offensive. Two explosions were reported in Russian-occupied Luhansk, and six children were injured in a missile attack. Russia's defence ministry said Russian troops had changed their position for strategic reasons, but the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said it was 'fleeing' and not a'regrouping'. Ukraine's air force made 14 strikes on Russian forces and military equipment on Thursday, destroying nine Russian drones and carrying out successful attacks on dozens of military targets.

President Zelensky said it was too early to start the counter-offensive, but pro-Kremlin Russian war correspondent Sasha Kots claimed the counter-offensive had begun, with Ukrainian tanks on the Kharkiv ring road heading towards the border with Russia. Ukrainian forces are preparing for a major counter-offensive by striking targets such as weapons depots, command centres and armour and artillery systems, and air attacks to "shape" the battlefield. Russian war correspondent Alexander Simonov reported that Ukrainian forces had broken through near Bohdanivka, taking "several square kilometres" of ground.