A military spokesperson claimed on Friday that Ukrainian troops have advanced by more than a km against Russian forces near the eastern city of Bakhmut.
His remarks were the latest by Kyiv to indicate that the counteroffensive launched in early June is making momentum, despite Russian assessments of fighting in the Bakhmut sector differing from Ukraine’s.
Military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said, “The defence forces continue to hold the initiative there, putting pressure on the enemy, conducting assault operations, and advancing along the northern and southern flanks”.
“In particular, over the past day, they have advanced more than one kilometre (0.62 miles)”, he added.
Ukrainian forces experienced partial success near the village of Klishchiivka, southwest of Bakhmut, according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian armed forces general staff.
According to Ukrainian military analysts, securing Klishchiivka will aid Ukraine in retaking the damaged little town of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May after ten months of intense battle.
A Russian army source told media earlier this week that Moscow’s soldiers had repelled a Ukrainian offensive on Klishchiivka and were sweeping up residual Ukrainian troops in the area.
Moscow, which launched a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine more than 16 months ago, sees Bakhmut as a stepping stone to conquering other cities. Russia still controls Bakhmut, but both sides report severe fighting in the area, with Ukrainian forces seeking to encircle the city.
Kyiv claims to have retaken a cluster of villages in the south since commencing its counteroffensive, but that stiff opposition and minefields have hampered their progress. Russia still controls a substantial portion of Ukraine’s east and southeast.
