In a “difficult” week for Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had regained land along eastern and southern fronts.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the Ukrainian military reclaimed 37.4 square kilometers (14.4 square miles) in a fierce battle last week.
She said Kyiv’s troops were pushing in eastern Ukraine’s Bakhmut direction, and Russian forces were attacking in Donetsk’s Lyman, Avdiivka, and Mariinka directions.
Maliar said Ukraine had recaptured nine square kilometers along the eastern front “due to improving the operational (tactical) position and aligning the front line” in the last week.
Maliar said Ukraine had retaken 28.4 square km in the south, raising the total to 158.4 square km along that front.
The front line struggled last week. “We are progressing,” Zelenskiy stated on Telegram.
We’re progressing! I applaud everyone defending Ukraine and driving this war to triumph!”
Russia, which began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, stated at the weekend that its soldiers had repelled Ukrainian attacks near villages ringing Bakhmut and further south, particularly near the hilltop town of Vuhledar. It also contained northeast Ukrainian forces.
On Monday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Wagner mercenary group’s brief mutiny last month had not hampered Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“The provocation did not affect the actions of army groups (involved in the operation),” he told a ministry meeting.
Reuters could not verify battlefield accounts.
Comment Template