Defense Ministry: Hottest spots in Kupiansk direction, Ukraine's Forces continue offensive

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said this on the air of the "United News" telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"If we measure the intensity of the fighting, the hottest spot is in the Kupiansk direction. Indeed, the enemy is pulling up forces there, and we record that they are pulling up forces from the Avdiivka direction, where they have been unable to advance for more than a year. And not only to Kupiansk, they are also pulling up forces to Bakhmut. Why? Because we are on the offensive there, and they cannot withstand this advance and have to fortify themselves," Maliar informed.

She assured that the Defense Forces are taking appropriate measures that cannot be disclosed at this time.

"I can assure you that we are also taking appropriate measures to resist the enemy and prevent them from advancing along the offensive line. To make it clear, in addition to the soldiers who are directly engaged in this resistance on the front line, our headquarters are constantly working there around the clock, and the command is actually in the combat zone," the deputy minister said.

According to her, the Defense Forces are demonstrating their success in the Bakhmut direction and are also advancing in the south.

"There are certain advances in the south, and there, too, the enemy's potential is being destroyed in large numbers, and the enemy is resisting: they are mining, reinforcing key dominant heights with concrete and engineering fortifications. But nevertheless, the destruction of their defense potential leads to the fact that we are moving," Maliar added.

As Ukrinform reported, on August 8, the spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhii Cherevatyi said that Ukrainian soldiers retain the initiative in the Bakhmut direction, despite the fact that the enemy is putting up strong resistance.