AFU liberate 43 sq km near Bakhmut – Defense Ministry

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said this on the air of the United News telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrinform reports.

"Our troops are advancing along the southern flank around Bakhmut. As of now, three more square kilometers have been liberated. In general, we can talk about the liberation of 43 square kilometers of our land in this direction," said Maliar.

In the north of Bakhmut, according to her, the enemy is trying to knock the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of their positions, since the defenders have regained the dominant heights there and are holding back the Russians.

"In fact, the enemy is trapped there. The Russians cannot get out of Bakhmut and cannot fully advance there," the deputy defense minister noted.

She also said that the enemy is trying to surround Avdiivka, but the defenders do not allow them to do so.

As for another hot sector - Maryinka, the enemy, according to Maliar, actually destroyed all the infrastructure and residential buildings there, but cannot take the city under control.

As reported by Ukrinform, in Bakhmut direction over the past day, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Kurdiumivka in Donetsk region. Airstrikes were launched in the areas of Vesele, Klishchiyivka, Kurdiumivka in Donetsk region. More than 20 settlements, including Predtechyne, Dyliyivka, Kurdiumivka, Ozarianivka, Druzhba in Donetsk region, came under enemy artillery fire.

Photo: General Staff