News - Middle East: President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the situation on Ukraine's eastern front lines is becoming tougher as Russian troops push for a significant battlefield victory in the region.

The Ukrainian president made the remarks in a nightly video address on Saturday. Russian forces have been working to close their grip on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and the nearby coal-mining city of Vuhledar located in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk.

"I’ve often had to say the situation at the front is tough, and is getting tougher, and it’s that time again," Zelensky said.

He said the circumstances in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Lyman and other directions were "very difficult now."

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar claimed in a post on Telegram earlier in the day that Russian efforts to break the defenses in Bakhmut and Lyman had failed.