Ukrainian troops are preparing for counteroffensives against Russian forces, with additional weapons supplied by Western nations.

Slovakia said on Thursday that it had delivered four Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Officials say nine more jets will be handed over in the coming weeks. Slovakia is believed to be the first NATO member to provide fighter aircraft to Kyiv. Another Ukraine neighbor, Poland, has announced a plan to send fighter jets.

EU leaders approved a plan to send one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine over the next 12 months.

The country's top ground forces commander wrote on social media that Russian military company Wagner is losing considerable strength in the battle over the eastern city of Bakhmut.

The commander also wrote that Ukrainian troops will take advantage of the opportunity as they did near Kyiv, Kharkiv and elsewhere.

The deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, held a meeting with military industry representatives on Thursday.

The former Russian president cited Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, who during World War Two urged military equipment factories to boost output and warned of reprisals if they failed.

Medvedev said in an interview with Russian state-run media that the country is not fighting Ukraine but 3.6 million members of the NATO army.