Ukraine claims control over key eastern front city

(Patria) - Ukraine announced that its forces have recaptured Klishchiivka, a tactically important town south of the key city of Bakhmut, AFP reported.

"Klishchiivka has been cleared of Russians," announced on social media Oleksandr Syrsky,
commander of the ground forces of the Ukrainian army.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the soldiers fighting near Bakhmut and highlighted those who recaptured Klishchiivka in his evening address to the nation.

He also said that Kyiv is "preparing new defense solutions for Ukraine," stating that "air defense and artillery are a priority," without providing details.

Klishchiivka, which had a population of several hundred people before Moscow launched its offensive in February 2022, was captured by Russian troops in January.

Ilya Yevlash, spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said that control over Klishchiivka could help the Ukrainian army encircle Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured in May after one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war.

"We have now gained ground, which will allow us to continue developing offensive actions and liberating our land from the occupiers in the future," Yevlash said in a televised statement.

The liberation of Klishchiivka followed the Ukrainian armed forces' announcement on Friday that the village of Andriivka, also located south of the eastern city of Bakhmut, had been recaptured.

Russia denied on Saturday that its forces had been pushed out of frontline villages.