Russia-Ukraine war #newstoday • The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 500th day, with no sign of a diplomatic solution or a ceasefire. The war has claimed more than 13,000 lives and displaced millions of people.
• Ukraine claims to have made 'tactically significant' gains in Bakhmut, a strategic town near the border with Russia, according to a US thinktank. The Institute for the Study of War said that Ukrainian forces have advanced in areas that were previously lost to Russian-backed separatists, and have improved their defensive positions. Russia denies that China warned President Putin not to invade Ukraine, calling it 'fake news'. A report by Bloomberg said that China's President Xi Jinping told Putin in a phone call that a war would have 'disastrous consequences' for both countries and the world. Russia said that the phone call was 'constructive' and focused on bilateral cooperation and regional issues. Russia also denies that it planted explosive devices on the roof of a nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's largest nuclear power station. Ukraine said that it found 'explosive devices' on the roof of one of the reactors, and accused Russia of trying to sabotage its energy infrastructure. Russia said that the allegation was 'absurd' and 'provocative'.