According to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, Russian forces have gained ground near the eastern town of Svatove in the Luhansk region.
– The enemy is attacking the villages of Bilohorivka and Serebryanka, she says on the app Telegram.
The eastern city of Svatove, located in the Luhansk region, has long been considered important for Ukrainian forces. The city is located along important Russian supply routes, so any recapture of the city could have important strategic consequences for Ukraine, reports CNN.
Hanna Maliar states that there is fierce fighting along the entire eastern front line in Ukraine, with Russia attacking in several directions.
In addition to Svatove, the towns of Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman are also under Russian attack, according to the deputy defense minister, echoing a report from the Ukrainian military on Saturday.
However, Hanna Maliar claims that Ukraine not only faced setbacks in the east, but has reclaimed nine square kilometers along the eastern front during the past week, according to Reuters.
“Heavy Battles”
Ukraine’s deputy defense minister also claims that Ukrainian forces have made some gains along the southern flank of Bakhmut, particularly in areas surrounding the cities of Berdiansk and Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine.
“Troops are engaged in ongoing, heavy fighting,” she said, continuing:
“Ukrainian troops are facing intense hostile resistance in these areas, as Russia remotely mines the routes and redeploys forces.”
In the south, Ukraine reportedly recovered 28.4 kilometers of territory, bringing the total area of recaptured territory along that front to 158.4 kilometers, according to Reuters.
According to CNN, the Ukrainian military’s general staff said troops have been engaged in direct combat with Russian forces more than 28 times in the past 24 hours. It also said Russia launched 11 missile strikes and eight drone strikes.