Battle Rages For Soledar, Ukraine’s Bakhmut “Operationally Encircled”, Russia Shells Sumy 21 Times

Fighting is still underway in Soledar as Ukraine attempts to resist Russia’s attempts to control the salt mining city. Ukrainian President Zelensky said that the “number one issue” at present was the fight to hold onto Soledar and Bakhmut. He said that all resources required to defend Bakhmut and Soledar will be provided promptly and uninterruptedly. Meanwhile, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has come out in favor of approving requests from other countries to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The US also said that it supports the initiatives of allies and partners to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons, including tanks. Russia has released a US Navy veteran who had been held in the country's Kaliningrad region for nine months. Taylor Dudley had been held since April 2022 and was one of several Americans detained in Russia whose release the US has been seeking. Watch the video for all the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war. 00:00 - INTRODUCTION 01:56 - RUSSIA SHELLS SUMY REGION 02:49 - WESTERN MEDIATORS PURSUE OWN OBJECTIVES, SAYS RUSSIA 03:15 - GERMAN VICE-CHANCELLOR BACKS SENDING LEOPARD TANKS TO KYIV 06:10 - RUSSIA RELEASES US NAVY VETERAN