Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine signals counterattack to come ‘very soon’ as Wagner mercenaries suffer large losses
This is CNBC’s live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine. See below for the latest updates.
Ukraine’s most senior ground forces commander sent a strong signal Thursday that the country’s armed forces will launch a much-anticipated counteroffensive “very soon” to take back lost territory.
Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Wagner Group of mercenaries fighting in Donetsk were losing manpower, equipment and “considerable strength” and that “very soon” his forces would take advantage of the “opportunity” that presented.
The comments come just as Russian forces are seen to be losing momentum in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Separately, the head of the Wagner Group of mercenary forces in Ukraine, Yevgeny Prigoin, denied a Bloomberg report suggesting that he is preparing to reduce Wagner’s involvement in the conflict after a major dispute with Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
Five ships leave Ukraine under Black Sea Grain Initiative
Five ships carrying 153,300 metric tons of agricultural products left Ukraine’s ports of Odesa and Yuzhny-Pivdennyi.
The vessels are destined for China, Morocco, Italy and Turkey, and are carrying wheat, peas, corn and sunflower meal.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered in July among Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw three key Ukrainian ports reopen. The deal was extended this month for 120 days.
So far, more than 700 ships have sailed from Ukrainian ports since the deal began.
— Amanda Macias
