The Ukrainian military says it has been able to prevent Russian advances toward the Donetsk towns of Avdiivka and Bakhmut, as well as near the city of Kharkiv, its general staff said in an update on Wednesday evening.
“[Russia] tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Bakhmut, Kodema, Spirne, Yakovlivka, and Soledar with offensive and assault actions, it did not succeed, it withdrew,” the general staff said. “The enemy carried out offensive actions in the directions of Avdiivka and Pisky, received a worthy repulse, and withdrew.”
The general staff said Russia had continued to use artillery to try and attack Ukrainian lines.
“With the aim of displacing Ukrainian units from the occupied borders, the enemy used barrel, rocket artillery, and tanks,” it said, accusing Moscow of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Reconnaissance with UAVs and some airstrikes were also reported across the eastern frontline.
The Ukrainian military said Russian forces also tried to advance on certain positions around Kharkiv in order to “improve their tactical position,” but failed.
“Ukrainian soldiers inflicted significant losses on the invaders and forced them to flee back,” it said. “In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy actively conducted aerial reconnaissance by UAVs. It devotes significant efforts to improving the logistical support of units operating in this direction.”
In the Southern flank, Russian forces continued to focus on defending their positions with some occasional air and land-based reconnaissance assaults, the General Staff concluded.