Ukraine says it is advancing near Bakhmut

(Patria) - Ukraine said on Friday that its troops had advanced more than a kilometer near the city of Bakhmut over the past day in fighting against Russian forces, Reuters reported.

The comments signal that a counteroffensive launched in early June is making gradual progress, although Russian reports on fighting in the Bakhmut sector differ from Ukrainian ones.

"The defense forces there continue to hold the initiative, put pressure on the enemy, carry out assault operations, advance along the northern and southern flanks," Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the eastern military command, told Ukrainian television. "Specifically, over the past day, they advanced more than one kilometer," he added.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is in charge of Ukraine's ground forces, also said that Ukrainian troops were moving forward in the direction of Bakhmut. "The defense forces are advancing and moving forward," he said, adding that some territory had been recaptured, but did not provide details.

A spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces said that Ukrainian forces had achieved "partial success" near the village of Klishchiivka, southwest of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian military analysts say that securing Klishchiivka would help Ukraine retake Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured in May after months of fighting.

The Russian news agency RIA quoted a source from the Russian military as saying this week that Moscow's forces had repelled an attack on Klishciivka and were clearing out remaining Ukrainian troops in the area.