UKRAINE: Ukrainian forces are fending off a Russian assault on the eastern flank of the front, are having trouble in the northeast, but are making advances in the south and close to the destroyed city of Bakhmut, the deputy defence minister stated on Sunday.
Russian reports from the front line stated that Moscow’s soldiers had thwarted Ukrainian attacks in the southern regions, particularly in the important hilltop town of Vuhlear and in the villages that surrounded Bakhmut. They also claimed to have been successful in keeping Ukrainian soldiers in the northeast under control.
In the port city of Odesa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy honoured troops with awards and made a firm pledge: “The enemy will in no way dictate its terms in the Black Sea!”
Ukraine’s military has been actively countering the Russian invasion that has lasted for 16 months, aiming to reclaim territories in the east and south. The initial focus of the Ukrainian advances has been on securing clusters of villages in the southern areas.
Hanna Maliar, the Deputy Ukrainian Defence Minister, wrote on Telegram that everywhere things are hot in the east, with Russian soldiers making advancements near the embattled cities of Avdiivka and Maryinka in the Donetsk region.
Furthermore, in the region of northeastern Ukraine known as Svatove, where Russian forces have been involved, she mentioned that the enemy has initiated an attack. “Fierce fighting is taking place…The situation is quite complicated.”
Maliar conveyed that there had been some “partial success” south of Bakhmut, a location that Russian forces had seized in late May following prolonged and fierce combat.
Regarding the southern front, where Ukrainian forces managed to retake several villages, Maliar reported “gradual advances” occurring in two specific areas.
“Our troops are facing intense enemy resistance, remote mining, and the redeployment of enemy reserves, but are tirelessly creating the conditions for the fastest possible advance,” she stated.
General Oleksander Tarnavskiy, who oversees operations on the southern front, stated that Ukrainian troops were “systematically destroying the enemy” and reported the demise of several hundred Russian soldiers within the past 24 hours.
Zelenskiy, along with Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhniy, have reported that the ongoing campaign is making steady but gradual progress. While the president recognises that the advancements are limited, he emphasises that this is not a scenario of instant success like in a Hollywood movie.
In addition to the challenging progress, Ukraine has been subjected to persistent air attacks from Russia on its cities. However, the Kremlin denies any involvement in targeting civilian areas.
On Sunday, after a 12-day hiatus, Russia initiated a drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region. However, the air defence systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all the incoming weapons.
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