Ukraine claims to have taken back nine square kilometers of territory in the east and 28.4 square kilometers in the south in the past week, totaling about 14 square miles, according to Hanna Maliar, the deputy defense minister of Ukraine.
Heavy fighting is ongoing in the east, with Ukrainian forces advancing in the Bakhmut direction and Russia attacking in the Lyman, Avdiivka, and Maryinka directions, she said in her latest update Monday.
“The enemy is trying to force our troops out of their positions but is receiving a worthy rebuff,” said Maliar. She added that Russia has stepped up attacks in the east, while Ukraine continues to push its offensive in the south, in the Melitopol and Berdiansk sectors. She also said the total area liberated in the south is 158.4 square kilometers.