After suffering losses, Russia has recovered in two months and launched active offensive actions in the area of Makiyivka and later in the Kupyansk sector. Its main goal is to defeat the group of our troops, encircle Kupyansk and reach the Oskil River, the Commander of the Eastern Group of Forces, Col-Gen Oleksandr Syrskyy, has said, Military Media Centre reports.
"Every day the enemy carries out dozens of attacks by assault groups supported by armoured vehicles, conducts heavy mortar and artillery fire on our positions. However, our soldiers were prepared for such a development and are giving a worthy fight back," Syrskyy said.
Russia suffered significant losses and has not achieved any significant success.
Col-Gen Syrskyy arrived the frontline to make operational decisions and study the situation, visited military units that are defending the area of responsibility of the Lyman operational and tactical group of troops.
Overall, Russia continues to try to break through our defences in the Avdiyivka sector, but their attempts have been unsuccessful. Ukrainian defenders repelled about 20 Russian attacks, and about 15 Russian attacks were repelled in the vicinity of Maryinka.