On Sunday, Ukrainian military officials reported an escalation in attacks by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, aiming to make gains near two critical front-line cities.
According to the head of Ukraine’s ground forces, Moscow’s troops have initiated a campaign to reclaim territory near Bakhmut, the eastern mining city where the war’s deadliest battle occurred before falling under Russian control in May.
Ukrainian forces had previously regained control of the heights overlooking Bakhmut and achieved advances in the western, northern, and southern directions of the city during Kyiv’s summer counteroffensive.
“Toward Bakhmut, the Russians have become more active and are trying to recapture previously lost positions. … Enemy attacks are being repelled,” Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote in a Telegram update on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, a spokesperson from the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian forces successfully repelled five Ukrainian attacks in the vicinity of Klischiivka and Kurdyumivka, two small settlements located south of Bakhmut., the Associated Press reported.
Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov made this statement during the latest in a series of routine press briefings.
The long-awaited counteroffensive by Ukraine has yielded only incremental gains and significant losses so far.
Ukrainian troops are facing challenges in breaking through Russian lines in the southern region.
Concurrently, Moscow’s forces are making efforts to advance in the northeast, likely with the intention of diverting Kyiv’s attention and reducing the number of troops Ukraine can allocate to critical battles in the southern and eastern regions.
Written by B.C. Begley
B.C. Begley 