Maliar: Defense forces advance more than 1km in south in Bakhmut direction

Ukrainian troops have advanced more than 1 km in several sections on the southern flank in Bakhmut direction. On the northern flank, battles are ongoing, positions have not changed.

"In Bakhmut city, the enemy is actually trapped. Our troops made it as difficult as possible for the enemy to move and made it impossible to get out," Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar posted on Telegram.

Shelling from both sides continues.

In addition, the defense forces continue offensive operations in Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, intense battles continue everywhere.

Ukrainian defenders gain a foothold on the reached frontiers, take counter-battery fight measures.

"In addition, our defense forces are actually smashing the enemy's equipment and weapons there, destroying ammunition depots, striking the places where the Russian military is stationed compactly – thus significantly reducing the enemy's offensive and defensive capabilities," the deputy minister added.

According to Maliar, some Russian units refuse to participate in the battles in the south due to significant manpower losses.

"The ratio of irreversible losses in the south is 1 to 5.3. That is, the enemy loses 5.3 times more service members in the south than our troops," she said.

In the east, Maliar added, the invaders continue to advance in Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Kupyansk, Lyman, and Svatove directions, unsuccessfully trying to break through the defense lines. Intense battles are going on everywhere without changes in positions.