Russian forces are conducting offensive operations in several areas simultaneously. But in most of them, hostile actions are unsuccessful, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Col-Gen Oleksandr Syrskyy, has said.
"Despite the enemy's high activity, our troops manage to restrain its advance and inflict significant losses. Thus, in the Kupyansk sector, the enemy attempted to conduct offensive actions, but thanks to the accurate fire of our artillery, the enemy units fled before reaching the line of attack. The enemy's actions in the Liman sector were also unsuccessful. All his attempts to carry out offensive actions failed due to the resilience of our positions and the courage of our soldiers," he said.
He noted that Bakhmut sector remains the epicentre of the fighting. It is where the enemy is concentrating most of its efforts and is determined to take control of the city at any cost.
Currently, the Russians are increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the town into ruins.
"At the same time, our fighters inflict significant losses on the enemy and significantly slow down their offensive. The battle for Bakhmut continues. The situation is currently under control," he added.
Earlier, the State Border Service showed a video of the battle for Bakhmut. The confrontation between the Ukrainians and the occupiers has moved to the central part of the city, separated by a few metres.
Earlier, the commander said that in the Bakhmut sector, Russia had switched to scorched earth tactics and was destroying buildings and positions with air and artillery strikes. Syrskyy emphasised that the Russians are not giving up their attempts to surround and capture Bakhmut. Therefore, the task of the Ukrainian military is to exhaust the enemy and inflict the greatest losses on it.