Ukraine says it is repelling Russian attacks in Kharkiv region, has made gains in east

KYIV - The situation in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv is “difficult”, but Ukraine’s forces are repelling Russian attacks and have retaken several square kilometres on the eastern front over the past week, a deputy defence minister said on Monday.

The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia was attacking towards Kupiansk, a town in the Kharkiv region.

“The situation in the Kupiansk direction is difficult. The enemy is not leaving plans to move forward, the enemy is pulling up additional forces,” Ms Hanna Maliar told the national television broadcaster.

“We are confident in our defenders, but it is very difficult for them there and the enemy is not advancing there.”

Ms Maliar said Ukrainian forces were advancing south of Bakhmut – the city occupied by Russian forces in May after a bloody months-long struggle – and had liberated another 3 sq km over the past week.

Reuters was not able to verify the reports.

Ms Maliar said there were no significant changes in the situation in the south, where Ukrainian forces are trying to split Russian forces and reach the Sea of Azov. “We should not underestimate the enemy,” she added. “We should all be patient and support our armed forces.”

In a later post on the Telegram messaging app, Ms Maliar said Ukrainian troops had had “success” south-east of the village of Robotyne and south of Mala Tokmachka in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia, but gave no details.

She said Russian troops had tried unsuccessfully to take back lost positions east of Robotyne.

Ukraine said last week that it had made gains in the south-east, pushing forward from the village of Urozhaine, but a United States official said Ukrainian forces did not appear likely to reach and retake the strategic south-eastern city of Melitopol in their counter-offensive launched in early June. REUTERS