Ukrainian troops broke through the Russian defense line near Bahmut (east), the commander of the ground forces of Kyiv, General Oleksandr Sîrskîi, said on Monday, AFP informs.
Ukrainian tank in BahmutPhoto: LIBKOS / AP / Profimedia
After the liberation of the villages of Andriivka and Klishciivka in the last few days, “the enemy’s defense line has been pierced”, said Sîrskîi, quoted by the press center of the Ukrainian army, writes Agerpres.
These small towns “were an important element of the Russian defense line stretching from Bahmut to Gorlivka,” he added.
The Russian 72nd, 31st and 83rd brigades “were destroyed and completely lost their ability to fight” in the battles near Bahmut, said General Sîrskîi.
At the same time, the Ukrainian commander admitted that “the general situation in the Eastern area remains complicated” and “fierce fighting continues near Bahmut”.
After the loss of two towns near Bahmut, the Russian army “undertakes numerous counterattacks” in the hope of “recapturing the lost positions” and is preparing to resume its attacks further north, in the area of Kupiansk and Lîman, Sîrskîi also emphasized.
Ukraine announced the liberation of the village of Andriivka on Friday and the village of Klishciivka on Sunday, both located south of the city of Bahmut.
How much of the occupied territory has Ukraine liberated since the launch of the counteroffensive
A city with 70,000 inhabitants before the invasion launched by Russia in February 2022, Bahmut was occupied in May by Russian forces, after the longest and bloodiest battles of this war.
Ukraine claimed on Monday the liberation, in the last week, of 7 square kilometers of territory in the east and south of the country that were under the control of Russian forces, more than three months after the launch of the counteroffensive by Kiev.
In total, since the launch of the counteroffensive, Kiev announced that it has liberated 51 square kilometers around Bahmut and 261.7 square kilometers in the southern part of the front.
Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in June to liberate territories occupied by Russia after receiving Western weapons and forming new battalions.
Ukrainian forces practically immediately began to liberate the territory on the northern and southern flanks of this city.
____
