Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that Russia will use “any weapon” if Ukraine attempts to retake Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Medvedev, who is also the deputy chair of the Russian security council, claimed that Ukrainian forces were preparing for a counteroffensive and that the Russian general staff is aware of the developments and calculating a response. The battle for the contested city of Bakhmut continues, with Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the mercenary Wagner group, claiming that Ukraine is planning to encircle the private military’s forces in Bakhmut and advance towards the Black Sea. Ukrainian soldiers are growing optimistic about turning the tide in the heavily damaged city as more shipments of modern western weapons arrive.
