Ukrainian troops are making progress in retaking territory near the Russian-held city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, officials said. “The area of ​​the liberated area was three square kilometers in the past week,” Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar said on Monday, according to a statement. Overall, the Ukrainian troops around Bakhmut have recaptured 40 square kilometers since the start of their counter-offensive a good ten weeks ago. In addition, there is also “very hot fighting” in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions on the Kupyansk and Lyman sectors.

In the southern part of the Donetsk region, according to Malyar, the Ukrainian units have established themselves in the village of Uroshayne. This had previously been acknowledged by Russian military observers. There is also heavy fighting south of the neighboring town of Staromajorske, which was liberated a good two weeks ago. She did not provide information on land gains.

Dnipro still border

The Deputy Defense Minister confirmed advances by Ukrainian units on the Russian-held bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. But they hadn’t settled there yet, she made it clear. “In order to establish yourself, you have to displace the enemy, clear the territory,” Maljar said. Earlier, Ukrainian media circulated video footage showing a Russian major allegedly captured during one of the raids. In the recording, he provides detailed information on Russian defense positions.

Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for more than 17 months, with Western support. A counter-offensive launched about ten weeks ago has so far fallen short of the high expectations.