Ukraine Retakes Rebel Stronghold

According to Ukraine’s defense minister, Ukranian forces have retaken the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Slovyansk and raised the national flag over the city. The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Aleksandr Borodai, was quoted saying that his forces were pushed back by a “large-scale” offensive. “Given the disproportionate numerical superiority of the enemy troops, unites of the armed forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic were forced to leave their previous positions on the northern sector of the front and go to pre-prepared [positions],” he said.