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Ukraine war live updates: Secret Pentagon and NATO files leaked; Russians have reached center of Bakhmut, UK says
This is CNBC’s live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine. See below for the latest updates.
The Pentagon is investigation a security breach that saw classified documents on US and NATO support for Ukraine leaked to social media. While it is not yet clear how the documents were leaked, they have been circulating on pro-Russian government channels, analysts say.
Military analysts were cited in press reports as warning that some of the documents appear to have been selectively altered to exaggerate Ukrainian casualty numbers and minimize those of Russian troops, suggesting a potential attempt at disinformation by Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian forces have likely reached the city center of Bakhmut, where bloody fighting has raged for months with little progress for either side. Russia’s recent advances could severely threaten Ukraine’s supply routes, the U.K. government said.
Russian strikes continue to damage and destroy Ukrainian health and energy facilities, the United Nations and World Health Organization say. Damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure now exceeds $10 billion, and the WHO has recorded more than 900 Russian attacks on vital health facilities in the country. Moscow denies that it deliberately targets civilians.
Russia prepared to work outside of grain deal, foreign minister says
Moscow is prepared to work outside of the Black Sea grain deal, if Western “obstacles” persist, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday, according to comments reported by Reuters and Russian state news agency Tass.
Speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, Lavrov accused the United Nations of a “failure” to implement the terms of the grain agreement, adding that Russian grain and fertilizer exports were encumbered by a lack of access to insurance and to the SWIFT financial messaging system, according to Reuters.
The key wartime deal, which allows Ukraine to export grains from critical Black Sea ports, was renewed last month, in an effort to stave off a global food crisis. Uncertainty surrounds the duration of the agreement’s extension.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Kremlin followed France-China talks, does not believe Beijing will change course
The Kremlin followed conversations between French president Emmanuel Macron and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, but is confident Beijing will not be swayed to change its position by external influences, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to a Google translation of comments reported by Russian state news agency Tass.
Macron began his state visit to China earlier this week. In a meeting with Xi, the French leader called on the Beijing administration — which retains close ties with Russia — to mediate in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
China previously put forward a 12-point peace plan on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but its proposal has yet to gain traction and has been criticized for being overly accommodating of Russia.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Russia has ‘highly likely’ advanced to the center of Bakhmut, UK government says
Russian forces have “highly likely” advanced into the center of the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut after weeks of bloody fighting and little progress, the UK’s Ministry of Defence wrote in its daily intelligence update.
“Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraine’s key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened,” the ministry wrote on Twitter.
“Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector.”
For several weeks, a rift has been evident between Russia’s state army and the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that plays a large role in Moscow’s combat operations. That schism may have been repaired to some extent, the ministry suggested.
“There is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation.”
— Natasha Turak
Pentagon is investigating major security breach after leaked Ukraine documents appear on social media
Classified documents detailing Pentagon and NATO plans to help Ukraine prepare for a Russian spring offensive have been leaked to social media.
The Pentagon is currently investigating the leak, which is
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