Russian forces bombard Ukraine's Bakhmut in major new offensive, NATO Chief says

The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut endured heavy artillery fire on Monday as the NATO chief backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion.

Ukrainian defenders, who have already held out for months, were braced for new ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said.

Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, a deputy battalion commander said.

Any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire, he said.

Bakhmut is a prime objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland, now partially occupied by Russia which wants full control.

The Russian assault on Bakhmut has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have made small but steady gains. The renewed Russian bombardments made the situation there even more acute.

"The city, the city's suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling," said Volodymyr Nazarenko, dep-

U-Haul van driver strikes pedestrians in Bay Ridge, New York

Eight people have been injured after they were struck by a driver in a U-Haul rental van, in the Bay Ridge neighbourhood of New York City.

Two people are in a critical condition, two in serious condition, and four have minor injuries.

New York Police Department said the suspect was evading a Police stop before he hit bystanders and fled.

The incident happened around 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT). A male suspect was arrested in nearby Sunset Park.

He is reportedly a 62-year- old man with no fixed address, according to ABC News.

Police called the incident a "violent rampage" during a news conference. They do not believe it is terrorism-related.

Surveillance footage showed the U-Haul van swerving onto a wide pavement and speeding as it was chased by a Police car, prompting at least one pedestrian to leap out of the way.

Police tried to stop the van by boxing it in, but the suspect rammed two Police cars and escaped, CBS reported.

Eyewitnesses said the truck hit pedestrians and people on two-wheel vehicles.

One of those struck was a Police officer, authorities said.

Josephine Lubarno, who works nearby, told the BBC that she was leaving a Chase bank branch when she noticed the U-Haul speeding down the street.

The van, she said, hit several cars in its way and struck a man who was putting on his helmet and getting ready to mount his bike.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the incident and that her office was ready to provide support to the New York Police Department.

(Excerpt from BBC News)