Ukraine is treading water in the south of the country, but retaking territories in the east. While indeed the state led by Volodymyr Zelensky recaptured 3 km2 from the Russians in the occupied commune of Bakhmout, a deputy defense minister conceded that no significant change had taken place on the southern front.
“An additional three square kilometers were liberated” near Bakhmout last week, Ganna Maliar told Ukrainian television, saying his forces had recaptured 43 square kilometers since June. “In the south, the situation has not changed significantly, our defenders continue to advance towards [the occupied towns] of Berdyansk and Melitopol,” she added.
Ukraine has been engaged since the beginning of June in a vast counter-offensive to try to liberate the regions occupied by Moscow. In northeastern Ukraine, in the Kupyansk area, the only sector of the front where Russian forces are attacking, Ms. Maliar assured that the Ukrainian line was holding firm, while evacuations began in the sector.
“All the battles in the last week ended in defeat for the enemy, the enemy did not advance there,” she said. Ukrainian forces are carrying out a very difficult counter-offensive, the Russians having spent the winter and spring fortifying their positions, with trenches, anti-tank booby-traps and minefields for hundreds of kilometres.
