The EU has imposed sanctions on the Wagner mercenary group for participating in the Russian war of aggression. Ukraine reports heavy fighting on all parts of the Eastern Front. The developments in the live blog.
3:46 a.m
EU imposes sanctions on mercenary group Wagner
The European Union has added Russia’s Wagner mercenary group to its sanctions list for “active participation in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” The European Council said Wagner was included on the list because of his “actions that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”.
In February, the Wagner group was added to another sanctions list for human rights violations and the “destabilization” of African countries. The group’s multiple sanctions “underscore the international dimension and seriousness” of its activities, according to a statement by the Council.
The panel also put the media company Ria Fan on the sanctions list. Ria Fan is part of the Patriot media group, whose board of trustees is chaired by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Wagner group leads the Russian fights to capture the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Soledar. According to a Russian NGO and a Wagner deserter, mercenaries from the group are responsible for the alleged beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Prigozhin rejected the allegations on Thursday.
2:15 a.m
Ukraine: Heavy fighting on all parts of Eastern Front
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Malyar has reported heavy fighting on all parts of the Eastern Front. “Most enemy attacks take place in the Bakhmut sector,” Malyar wrote on Telegram. The Russian commanders would have moved troops there from other areas. “The enemy deploys its most professional units there and makes extensive use of artillery and aircraft.” Every day there are 40 to 50 storming attempts and around 500 mortar attacks in the region. However, the Ukrainian armed forces managed to repel the attacks in most areas.