According to Ukraine's Donetsk region's governor, Russian forces in Ukraine's east are attempting to advance south towards key cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for more Western arms to help Ukraine reach an "inflection point." Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said the number of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine has dropped from some 6600 to 3500, with a significantly lower amount in the Donbas region.