Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar indicated on Sunday that "Ukrainian forces are fending off a Russian attack in the eastern regions of the front and are facing challenges in the northeastern area, but are making progress near the devastated city of Bakhmut and in the south."
Malyar confirmed that the situation is "volatile" everywhere in the east, with Russian troops advancing near the besieged cities of Avdiivka and Marinka in the Donetsk region. She stated, "Additionally, the enemy has launched an attack in Svatove. Fierce fighting is ongoing, and the situation is extremely complicated," referring to a region in northeastern Ukraine where Russian forces are active.
Malyar reported that the forces have achieved "partial success" south of Bakhmut, which was taken by Russian forces in late May after several months of fierce fighting. Regarding the southern front, where Ukrainian forces have reclaimed several villages, Malyar noted there is "gradual progress" in two areas.
She added, "Our forces are facing intense resistance from the enemy, remote mines, and the redeployment of enemy reserve soldiers, but they are tirelessly preparing conditions to achieve the fastest possible advancement." According to Russian accounts of the situation on the front lines, Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near the villages surrounding Bakhmut and in areas further south, particularly the strategically located town of Vuhledar atop a hill. They also reportedly succeeded in fending off Ukrainian forces in the northeastern region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky honored the troops in the port city of Odesa and pledged that "the enemy will not impose its terms in the Black Sea under any circumstances." Southern front commander, General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, stated that Ukrainian forces are "systematically destroying the enemy," with several hundred Russian troops reported killed in the past 24 hours.
Zelensky and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian forces, Valery Zaluzhny, mentioned that the forces are making steady, albeit slow, progress in the counter-offensive. The president acknowledges that progress is limited but asserts that the attack "is not a Hollywood movie" with immediate success.
The Ukrainian army is engaged in a counter-offensive to reclaim areas in the east and south of the country that have been occupied by Russia during its ongoing invasion for 16 months. The focus of the Ukrainian forces is primarily on securing groups of villages in the south.
Russia launched a drone attack last night on Kyiv and the surrounding area, ending a 12-day hiatus, but air defense systems destroyed all the drones as they approached. On Monday, Ukraine urged its supporting countries to commit to providing financial assistance for many years, and stated that the European Union's pledge of 50 billion euros ($54.6 billion) over four years is a "good sign" for the United States and other powers to follow suit.
