Russia carries out many attacks in the East

Ukrainian forces are facing a fierce offensive in the east and are facing setbacks in the northeast, the country’s deputy defense minister said Sunday. But the military has made progress on the outskirts of Bakhmut and on the southern frontline.

The Russian government ’s frontline situation report said Russian forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks on the outskirts of villages around the city of Bakhmut and in the southern part of the city, especially the town of Vuhlear. The government also reported successes in blocking Ukrainian advances in the northeast.

Reuters has not been able to verify these battlefield reports.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded some soldiers at the Odesa seaport and said: “The enemy will not have the right to dictate in the Black Sea region!”.

The Ukrainian army launched a counter-offensive to retake some areas in the east and south. In the initial attacks, Ukrainian forces focused on retaking the village blocks in the south.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on her Telegram channel that in the East, “the fighting is heating up everywhere,” with Russian forces advancing toward the besieged cities of Avdiivka and Maryinka in the Donetsk region.

Speaking about an area in northeastern Ukraine where Russian forces are active, she said: “In addition, the enemy has begun to organize attacks in the Svatove area. There is intense fighting going on… The situation is very complicated.”

Ms. Maliar also informed that the activities in the southern city of Bakhmut have achieved “partial success”.

On the southern front, where Ukrainian forces have retaken several villages, Ms. Maliar said there was a “gradual advance” underway in two areas.

“Our troops are facing fierce enemy resistance, as well as a lot of remote exploitation and reserve redeployment, but at the same time are constantly trying to create conditions to advance as quickly as possible.”

General Oleksander Tarnavskiy, who is responsible for the southern frontline, said Ukrainian forces were “systematically destroying the enemy” and reported that hundreds of Russian soldiers had been killed in the past 24 hours.

Mr Zelensky and the commander-in-chief of Ukrainian forces, General Valery Zaluzhniy, said the operation had made progress, albeit slowly.

President Zelensky admitted that progress was still limited but also affirmed that this counter-offensive was “not a Hollywood movie” with immediate successes.

Ukraine has also faced repeated air strikes on cities. However, the Kremlin has denied allegations of attacks on civilians.

On Sunday, Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas at night after a 12-day pause. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted it.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)

Source