WESTERN PERSPECTIVE In Bakhmut's ruins, Ukraine says intensity of Wagner attacks growing A Ukrainian brigade commander fighting in the ruins of Bakhmut said Russian mercenary forces have stepped up shelling and artillery attacks in recent days and were not facing a munitions shortage, despite its chief's claims to the contrary. Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has complained for weeks that Russia's army is depriving his Wagner troops of enough ammunition to capture the eastern Ukrainian city, where months of fierce fighting have been dubbed the "meat grinder". Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the situation on the ground…

Sudan's rival forces agree to protect civilians but no ceasefire Sudan's warring factions early on Friday committed to protect civilians and the movement of humanitarian aid, but did not agree to a ceasefire and remain far apart, U.S. officials said. After a week of talks in the Saudi port of Jeddah, Sudan's army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) signed a declaration that they would work towards a short-term ceasefire in further discussions, they said. "The two sides are quite far apart," a senior U.S. State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A text of the declaration…