Ukraine reports bloody fighting in Bakhmut; Poland, Hungary ban grain imports from Ukraine

By India Today World Desk: Bloody battles unprecedented in recent decades have been taking place in Ukraine’s Bakhmut and pro-Kyiv fighters are “doing everything” to hold on to the city. In the eastern city of Bakhmut, Russia and Ukraine’s armed forces are not only fighting a fierce battle, but the Kremlin forces have been maintaining their target on the city since it began the invasion of the eastern European country. On the other hand, Poland and Hungary have decided to ban imports of grain from neighbouring Ukraine to protect the local agricultural sector.

Ban on Ukraine’s grain and wheat
After a flood of supply that depressed prices across the regions, the Polish and Hungarian governments on Saturday imposed a ban on the imports of grain and other food from Ukraine.

Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the entry and importation of grain into Poland, but also dozens of other types of food (from Ukraine),” PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said during a party convention. Later, Poland joined the ban, reasoning that imports would cause severe damage to local farmers.Kyiv expressed regret about the Polish decision, saying that “resolving various issues by unilateral drastic actions will not accelerate a positive resolution of the situation”. Ukraine deemed the ban a breach of the existing bilateral agreements on exports and called for deliberation on the issue.

We understand that Polish farmers are in a difficult situation, but we emphasize that Ukrainian farmers are in the most difficult situation right now,” it said in a statement.

‘Bloody battles’ in Bakhmut

Ukrainian defence officials said “bloody battles” unprecedented in recent decades have rocked Bakhmut.

“Our soldiers are doing everything in bloody and fierce battles to grind down (the enemy’s) combat capability and break its morale. Every day, in every corner of this city, they are successfully doing so,” a spokesperson of the Ukrainian military’s eastern command said.