Ukraine said on Monday that its troops were still advancing in the vicinity of Bakhmut, although the “intensity” of their movement was waning as Russia increased its presence in the area destroyed by months of bombardment.
Russia said on Saturday it had taken Bakhmut completely, but Ukrainian officials say Ukrainian armed forces still control a small part of the city.
Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar confirmed on Monday that Ukraine has a small foothold inside the city itself.
“Thanks to our advance on the flanks – north and south – we manage to destroy the enemy,” she said in a television interview. – Moving along the flanks and occupying certain heights there, our armed forces made it very difficult for the enemy to stay in the city itself. We are still moving forward, but the intensity is somewhat reduced.
Reuters has not independently verified the situation in the city.
Maliar later wrote in a telegram that Ukrainian troops still control “some private facilities and the private sector in the Litak region”.
“The enemy is clearing the areas of the city under his control,” she wrote. – The struggle for dominant heights continues on the flanks – north and south of the suburbs. Our fighters do not give the enemy the possibility of gaining a foothold there.
Confirming Kiev’s goals for the defense of Bakhmut, she wrote: “The enemy’s offensive potential has been greatly reduced, huge losses have been inflicted on the enemy, and we have gained time for certain actions, which will be reported later.”
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