you're live with bbc news. a ukrainian attack on the donetsk region. there have been over 30 clashes in donetsk and it's the latest sign of a ukrainian counter effect —— offensive. i asked our correspondent if the counteroffensive is under way. we've said for a while _ counteroffensive is under way. we've said for a while now _ counteroffensive is under way. we've said for a while now that _ counteroffensive is under way. we've said for a while now that the - said for a while now that the counterattack will not be announced but they have never stopped so it would be a mistake to think that the

front was never idle. emergency operations around the front line have been very active and some days more intense and than others. as you mention in your previous report in back moots, in and around bakhmut ukrainian armed forces have been over the last couple of weeks counter attacking and achieving some relative progress. we see the terrorists group has left and we understand we have degraded the russian army. we understand that russian army. we understand that russian losses around bakhmut are seven or more times higher than ours. this was our strategy to inflict losses on the enemy and allow ukrainian army to prepare for the next stages of our offensive. 0ur the next stages of our offensive. our goal is unchanged and we want to

liberate our lands and we are moving toward that goal little by little. you talk about what the response has been. the defence ministry says ukrainians have been trying to break through some russian defences and you did not achieve your tasks and had no success. let me put it to you this way perhaps, these are what i described in military circles is probing. you're trying to size up what defences russia has in place and that will then determine the next steps of this war. is that a fair assessment?— next steps of this war. is that a fair assessment? the so-called shaina fair assessment? the so-called shaping or— fair assessment? the so-called shaping or probing _ fair assessment? the so-called shaping or probing operations l fair assessment? the so-called . shaping or probing operations have been taking place for some time now but one thing we know by now in ukraine as well as beyond ukraine is that if anyone is interested in understanding what is happening in ukraine on the battlefield, the ministry of defence is not a source

to go to in russia because they are lying about everything. they are lying about everything. they are lying about their imaginary successes on the battlefield, if we trusted them, bakhmut would have their control three times. we've seen that russia has intensified the misinformation campaigns. they are using different social media and using different social media and using old footage and images and video footage of destroyed military equipment of prisoners of war to discredit the military operations carried out by the ukrainian armed forces. we are most confident will see all this again and we want everyone to follow what the ukrainian military of defence is saying because we stick by the truth. we may not always be open and vocal about our plans which is justified by the military necessity but we don't concoct reality. we

don't make up fakes.— but we don't concoct reality. we don't make up fakes. when you talk of science. — don't make up fakes. when you talk of science. we _ don't make up fakes. when you talk of science, we know _ don't make up fakes. when you talk of science, we know this _ don't make up fakes. when you talk of science, we know this is - don't make up fakes. when you talk of science, we know this is an - of science, we know this is an information war as much as it is a militant war. i wonder if you could describe to us what the video issued by ukrainian forces with their fingers to their lips saying we will not announce the science is important. we are looking at it now on our screens. what is the purpose of this video? the on our screens. what is the purpose of this video?— of this video? the purpose is to relate a simple _ of this video? the purpose is to relate a simple message - of this video? the purpose is to relate a simple message that l of this video? the purpose is to - relate a simple message that plans like science. in ukraine we are pretty much every second a target of massive missile and drone attacks. we are saying the same message to our own people, asking and requesting them not to for example take photos of the sites of attacks and not spread images on social media. this is relevant to everybody

else because by now there is some erroneous image or perception of the next stages of the ukrainian military operations as if it's an offensive. that all ukrainian tanks and soldiers will gather in one place and a general will come out with a gun and it things will begin to happen. we are saying look, whatever happens is never announced. we will report after it happens and we have to be focused and quiet about our plans because the element of surprise is a very important factor of the success on the battlefield. i factor of the success on the battlefield.— factor of the success on the battlefield. .. . , , ., battlefield. i actually understand. let me ask _ battlefield. i actually understand. let me ask you — battlefield. i actually understand. let me ask you one _ battlefield. i actually understand. let me ask you one more - battlefield. i actually understand. l let me ask you one more question. battlefield. i actually understand. - let me ask you one more question. we know a of offensive was dependent on things like weather conditions and troop movement and provisions from the west. is there a suggestion that if this has begun, you now have the equipment you need to launch as counteroffensive?— equipment you need to launch as counteroffensive? , ., . counteroffensive? number one we have to understand —

counteroffensive? number one we have to understand is — counteroffensive? number one we have to understand is this _ counteroffensive? number one we have to understand is this is _ counteroffensive? number one we have to understand is this is the _ counteroffensive? number one we have to understand is this is the most - to understand is this is the most intense warfare since the end of second world war. things like ammunition is used on the battlefield very highly. this is why notjust battlefield very highly. this is why not just our western allies battlefield very highly. this is why notjust our western allies but our american friends and everyone is now ramping up the production of ammunition because they understand how high the rate of bullet use is on the battlefield. also things like weather conditions and preparedness in terms of how much military assistance we have received the most importantly and i would like to stress this, when our military commanders making decisions about the next steps, priority is ensuring that the lives of our personnel are safe. that we can achieve maximum results on the battlefield while occurring minimum losses. we value our soldiers and that's our highest priority. unlike russia who is using their soldiers as cannon fodder as

those slaughterhouses without any regard for their lives. let’s those slaughterhouses without any regard for their lives.— regard for their lives. let's get all the sport — regard for their lives. let's get all the sport from _ regard for their lives. let's get all the sport from the - regard for their lives. let's get all the sport from the bbc- regard for their lives. let's get. all the sport from the bbc sport centre. totte n ha m centre. tottenham are moving closer to appointing their new manager. they admitted on saturday that his ability to enjoy celtics travels successes have been affected by decision—making. it seems he is on the verge of taking over at spurs. he watched his celtic team on saturday but it seems he is now poised to fill the post that has been vacant since kante's departure in march. here is ourjournalist on the appointment. in march. here is our “ournalist on the appointment._ in march. here is our “ournalist on the appointment. we've seen a bit of a slit the appointment. we've seen a bit of a split amongst _ the appointment. we've seen a bit of a split amongst spurs _ the appointment. we've seen a bit of a split amongst spurs fans _ the appointment. we've seen a bit of a split amongst spurs fans so - the appointment. we've seen a bit of a split amongst spurs fans so far. - a split amongst spurs fans so far. there is a lot of interest and sympathy for him as a person, people really like him. i followed sympathy for him as a person, people really like him. ifollowed the more people read about him, the more they

like him. he is very impressive individual. at the same time, there are a few spurs fans but who have doubts because of the lack of experience. some fans are so opposed to him given what has happened over tottenham that i think they would have accepted any managerial candidate. i do think that generally, my impression is that spurs fans are becoming more and more sympathetic to postecoglou the more sympathetic to postecoglou the more they learn about him. if postecoglou does take the job, he might be without his best player because harry kane is thought to top real madrid's most wanted list this summer. he is undecided on his feet. away from football, iga swiatek is the star attraction on day nine of the star attraction on day nine of the french open in her bed for her third title in four years. that will be on court suzanne. she breezed

past the american in straight sets afterfinishing as past the american in straight sets after finishing as runner—up past the american in straight sets afterfinishing as runner—up in both wimbledon last year and us open. she is looking to go one better in paris. casper was beaten last year ljy paris. casper was beaten last year by rafa nadal and out there against chile for the last place in the 16. he took the first two sets and is serving for the third. just a few points away from taking a match there. he is the fourth seed of norway. the nba finals level at 1—1 after beating denver nuggets. nicola was in superb form scoring 31 points but it wasn't enough as the heat surged in the final quarter. to their 111 .8 point win.

women's golf has a big new scots star this morning stop rose. —— rose zhang won herfirst star this morning stop rose. —— rose zhang won her first professional start. she was the best amateur in the world for a record 1111 weeks before turning pro just nine days ago. the world for a record 1111 weeks before turning pro just nine days ago. i’m the world for a record 1111 weeks before turning pro just nine days ago. i’m 50 the world for a record 141 weeks before turning pro 'ust nine days am, �* ., ~' the world for a record 141 weeks before turning pro 'ust nine days am, �* ., ~' the world for a record 141 weeks before turning pro 'ust nine days auo.�* ., ~ �* the world for a record 141 weeks before turning pro 'ust nine days auo.�* ., ~ �* , ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin to express — ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin to express how— ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin to express how amazing - ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin to express how amazing this - ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin to express how amazing this day i ago. i'm so thankful. i can't begin i to express how amazing this day has been. being under pressure and having the thrills and crowds, it's... i can't even explain how great and well written this holiday could have ended. but that play—off definitely provided a bit of flavour and thrill for everyone. i hope you guys enjoyed the show. we and thrill for everyone. i hope you guys enjoyed the show. guys en'oyed the show. we certainly did.

guys enjoyed the show. we certainly did. meanwhile, _ guys enjoyed the show. we certainly did. meanwhile, victor— guys enjoyed the show. we certainly did. meanwhile, victor who - guys enjoyed the show. we certainly did. meanwhile, victor who won - guys enjoyed the show. we certainly did. meanwhile, victor who won the | did. meanwhile, victor who won the memorial tournament on sunday went out on the golf course less than 20 hours after winning that winning putt. making promise to his caddie and former team—mate zac after he contests final qualifying for the us open. world number one, he can carry my bag anytime. time. what a handy friend. that is all the sport for now. hello. the weather patterns across the uk have been very static across the last few weeks, leaving many of us asking when it is going to rain? well, the answer could be with this cloud here, between madeira and the canary islands, the storm 0scar is going to bring some very wet and windy weather during the rest of today and tomorrow, but notice how this area of low pressure pushes towards our shores as we head through the weekend, bringing a chance of thunderstorms.

however, it does not guarantee rain everywhere. that rainfall could be fairly sporadic. what it will do is change weather patterns, the air coming from the near continent instead of the north, bringing warmer and more humid air, temperatures widely across the uk in the mid— if not high—20s, certainly warm up a note as well. the mid— if not high—20s, certainly warmer by night as well. that is coming our way and out there at the moment it is these guys throughout the day, cloud towards the east of the country, and that cloud will continue to roll back into the night after retreating towards the coast through the day. notice how it becomes extensive across much of england, towards east wales, a good part of central and eastern scotland as well towards dawn tomorrow. clear skies in the west, temperatures down into single figures overnight for many, but for many it will be 7—10 tuesday morning. those grey skies a bit more abundant on tuesday, the best of the breaks in the west to begin with, are drinking across england, wales and

the south, but the club could be a bit more stubborn across yorkshire, east anglia, pushed in again but that rather nagging east—north easterly wind that has been with us for a few weeks now, keeping things cool along those eastern coasts, but still warmer to the west, western and northern ireland has of 23. pollen levels continue to rise across much of england, wales and northern ireland, the grass pollen season fully under way as it will begin wednesday. wednesday, low cloud will shrink a bit quicker and be lingering because parts of north—east england. sunny western areas, the sunshine will be out, a bit warmer as well, highs across western scotland and northern ireland. for the rest of the week, temperatures will rise further and a chance of the few sporadic showers into that weekend, but warmer by day and by night.