Army liberates 37 square kilometres in Ukraine’s east, south in one week

Ukrainian defence forces are continuing to advance on the Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, liberating 37 square kilometres over the past week.

"Both offensive and defensive actions continue in the east. We are advancing on the Bakhmut front, while the enemy continues to attack on the Lyman, Avdiivka and Marinka sectors. The enemy is trying to force our troops out of their positions but is receiving a worthy repel. Heavy fighting is currently taking place there," Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, wrote on Telegram Ukrainska Pravda reports.

Maliar added that last week, as a result of the improved operational situation and the levelling of the front line, the liberated area increased by nine square kilometres. 

At the same time, the number of Russian attacks in the east doubled over the week – the occupiers fired 11,753 times in 7 days (6,457 the week before).

In the south, the Ukrainian Defence Forces are advancing on the Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, in particular, in the areas of Novodarivka, Pryiutne, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, Novosilka and Staromaiorske.

Maliar said that the defenders had succeeded on all fronts in the south, liberating 28.4 square kilometres over the past week.

In total, the area liberated in the south has now reached 158.4 square kilometres.