MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defence ministry said on Friday that its forces had repelled a surge of attempted Ukrainian attacks against its positions in eastern Ukraine and indicated that its forces had fallen back a bit in one area for tactical reasons.
The ministry said in a statement that Ukraine had deployed more than a thousand troops and up to 40 tanks in 26 attempted attacks across a frontline extending over 95 kilometres. It said the attacks had taken place in the direction of the town of Soledar which is held by Moscow’s forces.
“All the attacks by Ukrainian army units were rebuffed,” the ministry said. “No breakthroughs in the defensive lines of Russian forces were allowed to take place.”
The same statement did indicate however that Russian forces had fallen back in one area of the front, taking up what it described as “more favourable positions” near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.
The shattered city of Bakhmut has been the focus of fierce fighting for months.
The defence ministry said Russian assault units, a reference to Wagner mercenary fighters, were continuing to fight in western Bakhmut – backed by paratroopers.
Ukrainian attempts to counter-attack Bakhmut’s flanks were being repelled, it added.
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said earlier on Friday that Ukrainian forces had advanced by about 2 km around Bakhmut this week and had not given up any positions there in that time.
Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.
(Reporting by Reuters reporters; Aditional reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
