A Russian court remanded an American accused of “drug traffic”, Travis Leake, in a context of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington linked to the conflict in Ukraine. He is accused of havingr “organized the sale of drugs to young people”a crime punishable by several years in prison, according to the Khamovnichesky court in Moscow, adding that Travis Leake “will remain in custody until August 6, 2023” pending his possible trial. Follow our live.
kyiv announces that its army has advanced 1,400 meters around Bakhmout. The “East” command of the Ukrainian army said on Saturday on television that Ukrainian troops had managed to advance around the devastated city of Bakhmout, which had become the symbolic epicenter of the conflict, which Moscow claimed to have captured in May.
Ukrainian “counter-offensive and defensive actions” have started. Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily press briefing on Saturday, “trust” to his troops, not wishing to give details of the ongoing counter-offensive. These remarks follow those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who assured Friday that the great Ukrainian counter-offensive intended to repel troops from Moscow had begun.
Emmanuel Macron calls on Iran “to immediately end support” for Russia. The Head of State has “alert to the seriousness of the consequences, both security and humanitarian, of the delivery by Iran of drones to Russia”according to a press release from the Elysée. A White House spokesman said on Friday that Russia was receiving “material from Iran to build a drone factory” on his floor. This site “could be fully operational early next year”.