Ukraine seeks to regain Bakhmut, Russia says it repelled attacks

(Patria) - Ukrainian military officials said Kyiv is persistently working to regain territory near the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, while Russian forces were deploying additional troops in an attempt to stop Kyiv's advance.

"The Russians are throwing a huge number of forces into the Bakhmut area," Deputy Ukrainian Defence Minister Hanna Maliar told national television. "It was important for us to consolidate on the dominant heights in these areas," she added.

Maliar says Ukrainian forces are advancing "slowly but confidently" south of Bakhmut, while simultaneously securing control over positions north of the city. "An extremely fierce battle is taking place there," Maliar said, as reported by Reuters.

Reports from Moscow state that Russian troops repelled eight Ukrainian attempts to advance in the east and inflicted a defeat near Bakhmut.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, focusing on moving south to the Sea of Azov and cutting the Russian land bridge between the occupied east and the annexed Crimean peninsula.

Kyiv, in the 18th month of the Russian invasion, is also determined to regain land around Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured in May after months of fighting.

Maliar wrote on Telegram: "The enemy is desperately trying to stop our offensive."

Much of the fighting is focused on villages on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut. One prominent commander commenting on the situation at the front, Maksym Zhorin, said Ukrainian forces had secured partial control over the key village of Klishchiivka.