Ukrainian soldiers have seen the city of Bakhmut reduced to a wasteland. But they say they have blunted the advance of Russian troops and are gearing up for a counteroffensive.

Ukraine's commander in chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said the situation in Bakhmut is "stabilizing." However, residents of the nearby city of Slovyansk fear their city could become a "second Bakhmut." Russian missiles slammed into buildings on Monday, killing at least two people.

Ukrainian officers say they could mount a counterattack "very soon." They have received Leopard 2 tanks from Germany. Some of their troops have already been training on a British model, the Challenger 2. They have returned home before they head back to the frontlines.

Authorities fear a counteroffensive would provoke an escalation in fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, met with President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of another visit to the complex. Grossi said the situation "isn't getting any better."