Russian forces intensified their strikes on areas in the Donbass region, which is still in the hands of Ukrainian forces, while many residents of Luhansk confirmed that Russia destroyed the last bridge linking the country to eastern Ukraine in that region.

Simultaneously, after Moscow hinted at the possibility of negotiating the issue of a prisoner exchange, Kyiv ruled out accepting any ceasefire or reaching any agreement that includes giving up its territory, stressing that Russia will strike with greater force, after any stop in the fighting, and will start a new, bloodier and broader offensive.