Russia's Victory Day celebrations overshadowed by military escalation and cancellations.

Russia continues to throw more soldiers into the grinding battle in the Donetsk region in a desperate bid for something to tout during next week’s Victory Day parade in Moscow. With the U.S. estimating that 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since December and a further 80,000 injured, Kyiv is determined to rob Putin of any positive PR, and Ukrainian forces are digging in, with heavy fighting continuing around Bakhmut. Even if Russians do take Bakhmut, the battle will continue, as Ukraine sets up new defensive positions outside the town center.