General Staff speaks of Ukrainian land gains on front in past week

The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrii Kovaliov during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Following the offensive actions in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced more than 1 kilometer, and 8.6 kilometers in total in these directions since the offensive started,” Kovaliov told.

Over the past week, Ukrainian forces have de-occupied more than 10 square kilometers of native land in southern Ukraine. In the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, since the offensive started, Ukrainian defenders have liberated from Russian invaders 169 square kilometers of Ukrainian land, which is equal to the area of Odesa.

According to Kovaliov, demining efforts continue in the Melitopol and Berdiansk sectors.

“In the Bakhmut direction, over the past week, Ukrainian warriors have liberated from Russian invaders four square kilometers of land. The total liberated area in the Bakhmut sector is 24 square kilometers,” Kovaliov noted.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue holding back Russia’s onslaught in the Avdiivka and Marinka directions. Here, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 148 times last week but had no success.

Additionally, Russian invaders launch unsuccessful attacks in the Lyman and Kupiansk directions.

Over the past week, a total of 133 combat engagements have occurred in the east. Ukrainian forces repelled all enemy attacks.