Ukrainian Military Says It’s Moving Forward Near Bakhmut as Russia Claims to Thwart Offensive

The Ukrainian military says it is "moving forward" near Bakhmut, which Russia claimed it captured in May after months of bloody battles. This comes after Russia said it repelled a Ukrainian offensive in the Donetsk region, killing hundreds of troops. Russia's claims have not been verified, and it's not clear if Ukraine has yet launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive. Over the weekend, a Russian air raid on the central city of Dnipro injured over 20 people and killed a 2-year-old girl, according to Ukrainian officials. The U.N. says over 525 children have been killed since the start of the invasion in February of last year.

Meanwhile, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is in Kyiv today, after Pope Francis appointed him to lead a papal peace mission to end the war in Ukraine.