Ukraine thwarts Russia's military efforts in Bakhmut.

Ukrainian forces successfully launched a surprise offensive against Russian troops on the outskirts of the besieged city of Bakhmut, denying Russia a victory to announce on Victory Day. The battle lasted for 12 hours, resulting in five dead Russian soldiers and a rare advance for Ukrainian forces. Despite this success, the fight for Bakhmut is far from over, and Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns that expectations are set too high for the planned spring counteroffensive.