Jabar Ekspres – Ukraine claims its forces have recaptured four square kilometers of territory towards Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk region.
“Within one week, four square kilometers of territory in the direction of Bakhmut were liberated. In total, during the offensive in that direction, an area of 35 square kilometers was liberated,” Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement on Telegram on Monday.
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Maliar said that Ukrainian forces conducted a successful offensive on the southern flank in Bakhmut over the past week, and they continue to advance in the region gradually but convincingly.
He further claimed that the main fighting took place outside the settlements of Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdimivka.
“The enemy continues to focus its main efforts towards Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka—fierce fighting continues,” Maliar said.
He said Russia was actively conducting attacks in the direction of Kupiansk with the intention of pushing Ukrainian army units beyond the Oskil River barrier.
Furthermore, he claimed that Russia also concentrated its efforts on driving Ukrainian forces in the forest area near the village of Serebrianka in the direction of Lyman, in addition to carrying out unsuccessful attacks east of the settlement of Torske.
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On the southern front, Maliar said that Ukrainian forces continued the offensive in the direction of Melitopol and Berdiansk in the Zaporizhzhia region.
“During the week, as a result of offensive actions in the south, the liberated area increased by 12.7 square kilometers. In general, the area liberated in the south is 192.1 square kilometers,” he said.
Russian officials have not commented on Ukraine’s claims, which cannot be independently verified due to the ongoing war.