The latest territorial gains were announced by the spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern military command on Friday, the Reuters news agency reported.
Ukraine ‘advancing to the north and south’ of Bakhmut
Serhiy Cherevatyi told Ukrainian TV that Kyiv’s forces “ continue to hold the initiative” near Bakhmut, as they keep “putting pressure on the enemy, conducting assault operations, advancing along the northern and southern flanks.”
“In particular, over the past day, they have advanced more than one kilometre,” he added, as quoted by Britain’s The Guardian newspaper.
Meanwhile, General Oleksander Syrskyi, who is in charge of Ukraine's land forces, also reported that Ukrainian troops were pushing ahead on the Bakhmut front, according to Reuters.
He said: "The defence forces are making progress and advancing," adding that there have been some territorial gains, but without providing details.
Ukraine hoping to encircle, retake Bakhmut
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s General Staff said Kyiv’s forces had achieved “partial success” in fighting near the village of Klishchiivka, just southwest of Bakhmut, The Guardian reported.
Capturing Klishchiivka would help Ukraine retake Bakhmut, according to Ukrainian military analysts.
Russia seized Bakhmut in May after months of fighting and sees the eastern city as a stepping stone to attacking other Ukrainian cities, the Reuters news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s forces are seeking to encircle Bakhmut in a bid to take back the city as part of their ongoing summer counteroffensive, according to military experts.
On Thursday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country’s forces had seized the initiative and were “moving forward” in their summer counteroffensive against Russia.
Since the beginning of June, they had liberated some 200 square kilometres of Ukraine, according to military analysts.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Friday is day 499 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm)
Source: Reuters, The Guardian, CNBC