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Ukrainian forces have advanced between 200 meters and 1.1 kilometers in various areas around the key battlefield city of Bakhmut and are now on the offensive, according to military reports.
« At Bakhmut’s direction, our troops went from defense to offensive, » Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said in a send on Telegram. « In the last day, we advanced 200 to 1,100 meters in various sections of the Bakhmut direction. »
The news comes as multiple average stores Ukraine’s long-awaited counter-offensive had begun, with Kiev’s forces fighting to retake Russian-occupied territory, reported Thursday.
In his daily intelligence on Ukraine update On Thursday, the UK’s MoD said: « In a very complex operational picture, heavy fighting continues along multiple sectors of the front. »
He added: « In most areas, Ukraine has the lead. »
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a video released Thursday that Ukrainian forces had staged an attack in the Zaporizhzhia area, with 1,500 soldiers and 150 armored vehicles. Shoigu claimed that Russian forces had held off the Ukrainians.
Ukrainian officials have previously said they will not announce the start of the counter-offensive, so as not to spoil the surprise effect.
In his Wednesday night speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cryptically said: “I thank each and every one of our warriors, all the units, all the brigades that continue to fight the occupiers. The Bakhmut management, Avdiivka, all of Khortytsia, all of Tavria – great work!
