Ukraine says it carried out “successful” offensives against Russia in the southern Zaporizhia region over the past week.
“In the south, the Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions. In the direction of Mala Tokmachka-Robotyne of the Zaporizhzhia region, they were successful,” Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram.
Maliar claimed that the Ukrainian forces have retaken control of a total of 204.7sq km (79sq miles) of land in the south, including 12.6sq km (4.8sq miles) over the last week.
On the eastern front, she said Russian forces continued to focus their main efforts in the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka, adding that more than 170 battles took place in these directions during the past week. According to Maliar, Russian forces tried to advance in the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Avddivka and Marinka, but they were “unsuccessful”.
At least two people killed in Donetsk
At least two people have been killed due to Ukrainian shelling of the city of Donetsk, the Russian-installed head of the region said.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Denis Pushilin said, “This morning, the AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] shelled the centre of Donetsk. Hits were recorded in the Voroshilovsky and Kuibyshev regions.
“As a result of the shelling, a passenger bus was destroyed. According to preliminary data, two people were killed and six injured. The injured are receiving medical assistance.
“In addition, VFU attacked a water utility in Yasinovataya with the help of a drone. The infrastructure of the enterprise is damaged.”
Since 2014, the city of Donetsk has been under Russian control, but Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions on its outskirts, and the city regularly comes under fire.
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