While Russian forces mount an essentially defensive operation in the south of Ukraine, they’ve adopted a more offensive posture elsewhere along the front line, according to updates from Kyiv’s military, regional leaders and Russian bloggers.
In Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, in particular, Moscow’s troops appear to have Ukraine firmly on the back foot.
“Yesterday the enemy tried to advance almost along the entire front line (running through the Luhansk region). These attempts were stopped by our military. The enemy is suffering significant losses in personnel and means but is pressing on every day,” Artem Lysohor, head of the region’s military administration, said on Telegram Saturday.
Lysohor listed five locations in Luhansk where Russian forces had recently attacked.
A Ukrainian army spokesperson reminded TV viewers that Russia has assembled 100,000 soldiers to the east of an area between the towns of Lyman and Kupyansk. The towns are about 100 kilometers (62 miles) apart, north of Bakhmut on the eastern front.
“Although the situation is complicated, it is under our control,” said Serhii Cherevatyi, the military spokesperson.
“The enemy is acting according to the classic scheme — they are conducting artillery and air strikes on our positions to the maximum extent possible. And then they try to attack with platoon-company-level units … trying to attack our positions,” Cherevatyi added.
Reports from Russia: Rybar, a Russian military blogging site, says Moscow’s forces have made territorial gains in the northeastern Kharkiv region, capturing a railway station in the village of Movchanove and expanding control around the nearby town of Lyman Pershyi.
It is not possible for CNN to immediately verify claims of battlefield gains or losses by either side, but it is notable that the DeepState mapping site also suggests modest Russian gains in the same area.
Also in the east, Ukrainian forces continue their efforts to capture higher ground around Bakhmut, but gains are small and hard to defend, according to reports.
Rybar reported the Ukrainian army has “once again managed to gain a foothold on the heights” near the town of Klishchivka, just south of Bakhmut. But, the Russian site reported, it had come “at the cost of significant losses.”
“The Ukrainian defense forces are holding the initiative (around Bakhmut), putting pressure on the enemy, and liberating Ukrainian land meter by meter,” Cherevatyi said.
