Both Ukraine and Russia announced positive results this Friday amid the conflict they have been in since February last year.

Ukraine said it had recaptured parts of territory near Bakhmut in the east, while Russia said it had repelled attacks 95 kilometers from the eastern front.

On the diplomatic front, China announced the imminent deployment of a special envoy to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to “communicate with all parties on the political solution of the Ukrainian crisis”.

Beijing, which has never condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been outlining an attempt to mediate the conflict for weeks.

On the ground, Ukraine assured that its troops had advanced two kilometers close to Bakhmut.

Russian troops occupy about 80% of that city, practically destroyed by the battle, the longest and bloodiest since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia denied that Ukraine had made any progress and said it had repelled Kiev’s forces near Soledar, some 15 km northeast of Bakhmut.

Russian militia chief Wagner, who is leading the assault on Bakhmut, accused the regular army of “fleeing” from the fighting.

“Defense Ministry units have just been flanked” in Bakhmut, Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video. Defense “collapse” and rhetorical attempts to “soften the situation” will lead to global tragedy for Russia, he added.

Prigozhin, whose rivalry with the Russian army has flared up in recent days, acknowledged Ukraine’s successes and challenged Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to visit Bakhmut.