Ukraine breaks through enemy line, Putin in jeopardy

In recent developments in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary organization, admitted in a video message that Ukrainian forces have made significant gains against Russian positions near Bakhmut. Prigozhin also openly taunted Sergei Shoigu, the Kremlin's defense minister, while acknowledging that the situation on the flanks is worse than expected. Despite Russia's claims of holding their frontline positions, Ukrainian soldiers are effectively attacking and advancing. This has resulted in Russia suffering considerable personnel losses, according to the deputy defense minister of Ukraine. The UK military intelligence suggests that Russian commanders face a "dilemma" over the use of scarce and expensive cruise missiles to hold back Ukraine's counter-offensive in Donbas. The UK has announced it will provide Ukraine with long-range missiles that Kyiv has requested as it plots a counter-attack against Russian troops. The Storm Shadow cruise missile can travel over a distance of 250 km, much further than the Himars missiles already provided by the United States to Ukraine. Russian authorities maintain that their frontline positions are holding and have disputed allegations of Ukrainian counterattacks in Bakhmut. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the challenges of the military operation in eastern Ukraine but stated that "certain goals have been achieved." The situation in Ukraine remains tense, and the conflict is ongoing.