Day 409 of the Invasion of Ukraine: 40,000 Ukrainian Soldiers are ready for the Offensive

Day 409 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers are ready for the offensive, the battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka continue
• Russia advances in Bakhmut
• "Nightmare for the countries of the Five Eyes": New secret documents about the war in Ukraine leaked on the Internet
• US: We figured out how to convince China and Turkey about the sanctions against Russia
• The Russian ruble depreciated to its lowest value in a year
• Russia - with the most journalists killed in Europe
• Blinken: It is too early to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine

40,000 Ukrainian soldiers are ready for the offensive, the battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka continue

Ukraine's armed forces said 40,000 troops were ready for an offensive. Fierce fighting continues around Bakhmut and Avdiivka, as well as in the area of Mariinka and Lyman. The Ukrainian military has repelled over 40 enemy attacks in the last 24 hours.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported two missile, 35 air and more than 40 strikes by Russian rocket systems for salvo fire during the past 24 hours. Several areas, including Kherson and Kupiansk, were shelled, one civilian was killed, eight people were injured, including two children. During shootings in Donetsk in the last 24 hours, four people were killed, one was injured.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told local television that in the next package of sanctions against Russia, which are expected to affect Rosatom, the European Union may make an exception for some...