Russia-Ukraine updates: ‘Heavy fighting’ towards Bakhmut – Kyiv

This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, July 3.

This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, July 3.

• Ukraine’s deputy defence minister reports “heavy fighting” as Kyiv’s troops advance towards Bakhmut, having recaptured 37.4sq km (14.4sq miles) of territory last week.
• Russia says it has thwarted a Ukrainian assassination attempt on the Russian-backed head of Crimea, arresting a Ukrainian agent before he was able to blow up the official’s car.
• An international office to investigate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, featuring prosecutors from Kyiv, the EU, the US and the International Criminal Court, opens in The Hague.
• Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian novelist, has died from injuries sustained in a Russian missile attack in Kramatorsk on June 27.
• The US ambassador to Russia has been granted access to meet Evan Gershkovich, according to the Wall Street Journal, the newspaper the jailed US national works for.