Progress at Bachmut
Ukraine reports difficulties at Kupyansk
07/16/2023, 4:50 p.m
Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been sluggish so far. In the northeast, the Kiev troops are now even on the defensive, and Russian troops are attacking near Kupjansk. On the other hand, things should continue to go well for the Ukrainian soldiers at Bachmut.
According to information from Kiev, the Ukrainian army is currently on the defensive against Russian attacks near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk. “For two days in a row, the enemy has been actively attacking in the Kupyansk sector in the Kharkiv region. We are on the defensive,” said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar. “Fierce fighting takes place and positions (…) change several times a day.” At the same time, she spoke of “gradual” progress near the embattled town of Bakhmut.
Last month, Ukraine launched a long-awaited counteroffensive. However, Kiev has conceded difficult fighting and has urged its allies to supply more weapons and long-range artillery.
However, Maljar stated that Ukrainian troops are “gradually advancing” near Bakhmut. “There is a daily advance on the southern flank around Bakhmut. We are trying to hold our positions on the northern flank, the enemy is attacking,” the Deputy Minister continued.
The city of Bakhmut was taken by Russian troops in May. The city once had a population of 70,000 but was devastated by the longest and bloodiest skirmishes in Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
Ukraine bombs the south
“In Bakhmut itself we are bombing the enemy, and the enemy is bombing us,” Maljar continued. On Sunday, the Ukrainian general staff reported attacks from the south of the country towards the Russian-occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Ukrainian counter-offensive as unsuccessful on Sunday. All “enemy attempts” to break through Russian defenses were unsuccessful “throughout the period of the offensive,” Putin said in an interview with Russian state television broadcast on Sunday.