Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv's forces had
retaken two square km (0.77 square mile) of land in the past
week around the shattered eastern city of Bakhmut, which was
captured by Russian troops in May after months of fighting.
Kyiv's forces also recaptured two villages on the southern flank
of the city, Andriivka and Klishchiivka, Maliar said.
Both cities lie on higher ground and their capture could set the
stage to reasserting control over the pivotal city.
Kyiv's troops have liberated 51 square km (19 square miles) near
Bakhmut since the start of the counteroffensive, Maliar said.
Further south in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian troops continued
to hold back a Russian offensive towards the towns of Avdiivka
and Maryinka, Maliar said.
Ukrainian forces are trying to advance toward the Sea of Azov in
a southern drive intended to split Russian forces retook 5.2
square km (two square miles) in the past week, said Maliar.
Overall, Ukraine regained more than 260 square km (100 square
miles) in the south during the counteroffensive, she said.
During its three-month-old counteroffensive, Ukraine has
reported slow, steady progress against entrenched Russian
positions, retaking a string of villages and advancing on the
flanks of Bakhmut, but taking no major settlements.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other officials have dismissed
Western critics who say the offensive is too slow and hampered
by strategic errors.
Reuters was not able to verify the reports and Russia has not
confirmed the Ukrainian advances.
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Michael Perry)
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