The Ukrainian army claimed on Monday it had recaptured 14 square kilometers of territory from Russian forces after the counter-offensive, military spokesman Andri Kovalyov said on Monday.
“Last week, more than ten square kilometers of Ukrainian land was liberated in southern Ukraine,” Kovalyov told Kiev television, adding that four square kilometers had been “liberated in the Bakhmut sector” in the eastern part of the country.
These figures, according to the same official, bring the total area Ukraine has recaptured since the launch of the counter-offensive in early June to 193 square kilometers.
“Ukrainian forces entrenched in the lines they had reached and inflicted artillery damage on identified enemy targets. The enemy (Russian forces) resisted, moving units and using reserves. Intense fighting ensued”, Kovalyov further stated referring directly to Bakhmut.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian counter-offensive is progressing slowly against Russian troops, “who are entrenched behind strong defensive lines”.
Last Friday, Kiev received cluster bombs from the United States, which are banned in many countries.
Ukraine is asking for even more artillery and the supply of F-16 fighter jets.
This latest assessment of the counter-offensive, prepared by Kiev, comes as Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Vilnius, Lithuania, for the NATO summit that will consider the issue of Ukraine’s application for membership in the Atlantic Alliance.
Source: DN
