Ukraine's deputy defense minister has reported "extremely fierce battles" taking place in various parts of the country as Kyiv's forces continue their counter-offensive against Russian
aggression. Hanna Maliar shared updates on Telegram, stating that Ukrainian troops made significant advances near Bakhmut in the east and Zaporizhzhia in the south, although encountering strong resistance from Russian forces.
These developments come in the wake of another night of Russian missile and drone strikes targeting cities across Ukraine. Despite President Vladimir Putin acknowledging a shortage of missiles and drones within his forces, Russia has escalated its bombing campaign. The Ukrainian army reported overnight attacks on industrial facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while drone strikes on Odesa were repelled by air defense systems.
Ukraine's anticipated advance has been a long time coming, with officials accusing Russia of intensifying strikes in recent weeks to divert attention from the offensive. According to Ukrainian sources, their troops have successfully recaptured seven settlements and expanded their control by at least 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) since launching the counter-offensive.
Hanna Maliar further disclosed that Ukrainian forces made advances toward the city of Bakhmut, which has been a site of relentless street-by-street battles with Russian forces. While she claimed gains of 200-500 meters in Bakhmut and 300-500 meters in the Zaporizhzhia province, these assertions could not be independently verified by the BBC.
However, Maliar acknowledged that the counter-offensive had already resulted in fierce battles as Ukrainian forces strive to break through well-established Russian defensive lines. Western officials cautioned against the notion that Russian forces would simply yield to Ukrainian attacks, noting that Kyiv's progress has come at a significant cost. The Russians have skillfully deployed a "maneuver defense approach," retreating between tactical lines, which has posed challenges and incurred losses for the Ukrainian offensive. It remains too early to assess the overall effectiveness of Ukraine's advance.
Both sides have reported escalating casualties, but independent verification is difficult. The recent strikes on Odesa claimed at least three lives and caused numerous injuries. The city, crucial for Ukraine's grain exports through the Black Sea, has intermittently faced missile fire during the conflict. Ukrainian military commanders confirmed that air defenses successfully intercepted most of the ten missiles and ten drones launched by Russia overnight. However, one KH-22 missile from a Russian warship struck Odesa, causing destruction to civilian buildings, including a shopping mall.
Additional strikes in Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka in the east resulted in the deaths of three people and the destruction of several residential houses. In northeast Ukraine, a van was targeted by Russian shelling near the village of Seredyna-Buda, leading to the deaths of six individuals, including four forestry workers. The situation remains volatile, with concerns raised about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the need to assess water levels after the nearby reservoir was impacted by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, the state Duma has approved a bill enabling the defense ministry to sign contracts with convicted criminals to join the fighting in Ukraine. The new law permits individuals under investigation, awaiting trial, or convicted (prior to the verdict taking legal effect) to serve in the army, excluding those accused of sexual offenses, treason, terrorism, or extremism. This move is seen as an attempt by Russia to address personnel shortages without resorting to full conscription. Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.