Ukraine has retaken eight settlements in southern part of the country in the ongoing counter-offensive over the past two weeks, according to the Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar.
Maliar also said that the forces have retaken 113 sq km of area in the region.
Ukraine is currently carrying out a counter-offensive to retake Russia-held territories. While the first counter-offensive last year led to better-than-expected success and dealt considerable blows to the Russians, the current counter-offensive has had limited success amid stiff resistance. One reason is that there was no element of surprise this time as the offensive was anticipated for months and Russians had ample time to prepare.
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The CNN quoted Maliar as saying that Ukrainian forces have retaken the communities of Novodarivka, Levadne, Storozheve, Makarivka, Blahodatne, Lobkove, Neskuchne, and Piatykhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Maliar also said that Russians have carried out over 5,000 attacks in the past week as Ukraine attempts to retake territory.
"In eastern Ukraine, Maliar said Russian forces launched more than 5,800 attacks and used more than 277,000 munitions over the past week. Russian troops had been more active against a Ukrainian advance near Bakhmut and Lyman-Kupyansk, Avdiivka and Mariinka, she said," reported CNN.
The Guardian reported British military intelligence as saying that heavy casualties have been reported on both the sides in the ongoing fighting.
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The think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces may be temporarily pausing counter-offensive to reevaluate their tactics for future operations.
Sharing maps of the current status of territorial control, the ISW reported that significant fighting has taken places at Stelmakhivka, Lysychansk, Spirne, Kostyantynivka (close to Bakhmut), Avdiivka, Marinka, and Vuhlecar.
Amid Ukrainian gains, the ISW also reported that geolocated footage showed that Russian forces captured Sakko i Vantsetti as of June 14.
