President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commended Ukrainian troops after his senior ground commander reported progress near Bakhmut in northern Donetsk.
“I am grateful to each of our soldiers, to all our defenders, men and women, who have brought us today the news we have been waiting for. Congratulations, Bakhmut soldiers!” Zelenskiy’s nightly video speech.
He didn’t elaborate. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s ground forces commander, said his soldiers were “moving forward” towards Bakhmut. Russian fighters and officials called it “very difficult” for Moscow.
Russia claimed late last month to have seized Bakhmut after the war’s longest and bloodiest fight, but Ukraine maintained a small foothold and denied Moscow’s authority.
Zelenskiy praised two units that “skillfully, decisively and effectively defend our positions, destroy the occupiers and, most importantly, move forward” and said Russia was reacting “hysterically” to Ukrainian actions.
Russia’s military said it had stopped two big Ukrainian offensives against its forces in eastern Ukraine since Sunday. Still, Ukrainian officials have not mentioned any broad, significant new campaign and sidestepped inquiries on Monday.
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