Poland says NATO troops have arrived in Ukraine; Russia spots foreign mercenaries near Avdiivka

War information

Russia discovers foreign mercenaries near Avdiivka . Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the leader of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, said that Russian intelligence agencies have discovered a group of foreign mercenaries in the two settlements of Tonenkoye and Orlovka near the strategic city of Avdiivka.

According to Mr. Kimakovksy, live recordings show that representatives of Poland and Georgia are operating in this frontline area.

The Russia-Ukraine war continued to heat up on all fronts yesterday. Photo: RIA Novosti

Russia kills 280 Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk . The Russian Defense Ministry said it had eliminated 280 Ukrainian soldiers, one tank, three armored vehicles and five cars in the province.

In addition, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, its forces attacked Ukrainian troops and equipment in 136 areas, intercepted three high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and shot down 130 enemy UAVs.

In the Kupyansk (Kharkiv) direction, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had improved its frontline positions and attacked three Ukrainian brigades in the past 24 hours, causing damage to the enemy of more than 110 soldiers, two tanks, three cars, one Krab self-propelled artillery system and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In Kherson, Russia reported Ukrainian losses for the day as 45 soldiers, one Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, one M777 self-propelled artillery system and three vehicles.

Russia claims to have destroyed Ukraine's S-300 system . The Russian Defense Ministry said the S-300 air defense system was destroyed near the town of Pokrovsk, about 67 kilometers northwest of Donetsk. The attack on the S-300 system was carried out with an Iskander short-range ballistic missile. This missile has a range of up to 500 kilometers.

Some related developments

Poland says NATO troops have arrived in Ukraine . Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that several NATO member states have sent their troops to Ukraine.

“NATO troops are present in Ukraine,” the Polish foreign minister said, noting that he would not reveal which countries had sent troops to help Kiev, “unlike some politicians .”

Earlier, Mr. Sikorski stated that the appearance of NATO forces in Ukraine is “not unthinkable.” The official appreciated the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of deploying Western troops to the neighboring country, which is in conflict with Russia.

Italy has rejected France and Poland's idea of sending troops into Ukraine . Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the statements of French and Polish officials cannot be considered to represent NATO.

“ France and Poland cannot speak on behalf of NATO. NATO has not intervened officially or voluntarily in the conflict in Ukraine since the beginning. Sending troops to Ukraine is a unilateral escalation and will destroy the chance of resolving the conflict through diplomatic means ,” Mr. Crosetto said.

Trump has a plan to end the Ukraine conflict . Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that former US President Donald Trump had a plan for a ceasefire in Ukraine. “He had quite detailed plans on how to end this war, but I am not allowed to reveal them,” Mr. Orban said.

According to Mr. Orban, Mr. Trump's plan "coincides with Hungary's plan in many ways."

The Hungarian prime minister added that there had been no military conflicts in Ukraine or in the Middle East during Trump's term, so Hungary "knows for sure what will happen if Trump returns to this position".

Ukraine warns of new scenario for NATO member . Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned that regions on NATO's eastern flank could be affected, shortly after Sweden became the alliance's newest member.

Foreign Minister Kuleba said he strongly believes that if Russia launches a military campaign in the Baltic countries, they will bravely stand up to an opponent that is superior in both experience and capability, causing NATO to take several days to decide on a response plan.

Ukraine rejects Pope Francis' proposal . Recently, top Ukrainian officials flatly rejected Pope Francis' call for negotiations with Russia, while affirming that Kiev will never "raise the white flag".

Ukrainian officials have spoken out against Pope Francis' controversial statement that when things don't go well, "the strongest side is the one that looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate."

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the stronger side in any conflict “is better off on the side of what is better than trying to put itself on the same level as the opponent and calling it negotiations.”

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