"Escalating Conflict in East Ukraine: Putin Dismisses Offensive as Ukrainian Forces Pound Russian Position"

Fighting in eastern Ukraine has intensified, with clashes between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops reported in multiple areas. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar described the battles as fierce and dynamic, with positions changing frequently. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Ukraine's counteroffensive as a failure. He also stated that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster bombs and reserved the right to use them if such munitions were used against Russian forces. The grain deal that allowed Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea is set to expire, with Russia expressing concerns about the deal's implementation.