KYIV: Ukraine has said it had recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city.
Kyiv said its forces advanced 2km weekly. Russia said its armed troops had regrouped at one place. The claims signal the momentum shift in Bakhmut – but more widely, there is no clear evidence of the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Two explosions were reported in Russian-occupied Luhansk.
Pictures posted on social media, verified by the BBC, show the giant plume of black smoke rising from the city, about 90km behind the front line in eastern Ukraine. The blasts come a day after the United Kingdom said it had sent Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
Kremlin-appointed officials said that six children in Luhansk were wounded in the missile attack alongside Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatsky. The authorities there blamed the attack on Kyiv.
Luhansk has beyond the reach of the Himars rockets Ukraine previously relied on for strikes against Russian targets. Russian-appointed officials said they thought Ukrainian missiles were responsible, hitting administrative buildings of two defunct enterprises.
Russia’s defence ministry said the Russian military in one Bakhmut place had changed their strategic position.
It said units of the Russian forces had taken up a good defensive position in the Maloilinivka place, which considered “the favourable conditions of the Berkhivka reservoir”.
As the intense, bloody battle has worn on, Bakhmut has become symbolically significant – though several experts question its tactical value.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Russia suffered important troop losses as Ukraine gained 2km without losing positions. Russian military bloggers reported Ukrainian advances and troop movements in many areas.
