Ukraine on Monday denied the battle for Bakhmut was over, even as Russian mercenaries declared victory after a brutal months-long struggle for the city.
Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said the city would be handed over to Moscow's regular army on June 1.
Mr Prigozhin said his troops are building “defence lines” as they prepare to leave Bakhmut in the coming days.
Kyiv acknowledged that Russia had taken most of the eastern city, but said fighting continued in its outskirts.
It said the battle had exhausted Russian forces and impaired their ability to go on the offensive.
“Despite the fact that we now control a small part of Bakhmut, the importance of its defence does not lose its relevance,” said Oleksandr Syrskyi, who commands Ukraine's ground forces.
“This gives us the opportunity to enter the city in case of a change in the situation. And it will definitely happen.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said on Sunday that the city existed “only in our hearts” but denied it was in Russian hands.
Aerial images suggested there was little left to conquer after a long battle whose symbolic importance has surpassed Bakhmut's strategic value as an eastern staging post.
Retired British general Sir Richard Barrons said the Wagner Group appeared to have been “broken by Bakhmut”.
“Russia had to move precious reserves of people and ammunition to stop Ukrainian movement to the north and south of the city,” he told Sky News.
There were also reports on Monday of skirmishes within mainland Russia, following a series of mysterious explosions and suspected incidents of sabotage across the border.
The governor of the Belgorod region said a Ukrainian “sabotage group” had entered Russian territory and was being repelled by Moscow's forces.
Kyiv denied involvement and suggested “underground guerrilla groups” were behind the fighting.
“Ukraine is watching the events in the Belgorod region of Russia with interest and studying the situation, but it has nothing to do with it,” said Mr Zelenskyy's adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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