Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on Monday that Ukrainian forces recovered nearly 18 square kilometers of territory in the east and south of the country last week as part of their counter-offensive against Russian troops.
She stated via Telegram that this progress has increased the total area of land regained by Kyiv since the beginning of the counter-offensive to over 210 square kilometers.
Maliar noted that forces regained 7 square kilometers last week in the direction of Bakhmut in the east, a small city taken by Russian forces in May after the bloodiest battle of the war. As a result, the total area regained in eastern Ukraine has risen to 31 square kilometers.
Ukraine launched the counter-offensive in June, aiming to reclaim occupied territories and take the initiative against the ongoing 17-month-long Russian invasion.
In the south, where Ukrainian forces are trying to advance towards the cities of Berdiansk and Melitopol, nearly 11 square kilometers were recovered last week, bringing the total to about 180 square kilometers.
