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☆ Ukrainian troops withdraw from Avdiivka as ammunition shortage bites
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian troops withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka, Kyiv's military chief said on Saturday, paving the way for Russia's biggest advance since it captured the city of Bakhmut last May. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took command of the Ukrainian military in a major shake-up last week, said Ukrainian forces had moved back to more secure positions outside the town, which had a pre-war population of 32,000. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised his troops for "exhausting" Russian forces in Avdiivka and said he agreed with the decision to withdraw in order to save lives. U.S. President Joe Biden warned earlier this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv. The Russian defense ministry did not single out the battle for Avdiivka in a statement on Saturday, but said that Russian forces had "improved their positions" on the Donetsk front.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Syrskyi Organizations: Kyiv, Munich Security, Avdiivka Locations: Russian, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Russia, Donetsk Region, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, U.S, Donetsk

☆ The Russian advance into the ruins of the city of Avdiivka was a matter of time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In December, US officials estimated that the Russian military has suffered more than 13,000 casualties along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in just a few weeks. The Ukrainian military acknowledged in December that the concentration of Russian forces would ultimately prevail. And ISW warns that “Ukrainian forces may have to stabilize the frontline by counter-attacking in the area where Russian forces are trying to close the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka in order to conduct an orderly withdrawal.”Much of Avdiivka now lies in ruins. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via ReutersThere are already indications that not all Ukrainian units were able to escape an ever-tightening noose. The Ukrainians are adapting swiftly to a new stance of active defense that will continue to bleed Russian forces.

Persons: General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Maksym Zhoryn, Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Zhorin, laud, Bakhmut, Volodymr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Avdiivka Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, Institute for, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Russian Defense, Munich Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Kharkiv, Mariinka, Russia, Europe

The Russian war machine is running at full tilt and has a much larger pool of men to draw from than Ukraine to replenish its ranks. Zelensky said he and Zaluzhnyi had a “frank discussion about what needs to be changed in the army. Frontline units in several vulnerable areas told CNN in recent weeks that they were often chronically short of ammunition, particularly Western 155mm artillery shells. The Russian military continues to make mistakes, but it is learning and adapting, especially in the exploitation of attack and reconnaissance drones and electronic warfare. The Russian military has also exploited glide technology to deliver aerial bombs more accurately, one reason that the Ukrainian offensive in the south faltered last summer.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, Zelensky, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, ”, Matthew Schmidt, ” Schmidt, Frontlines, Diego Herrera Carcedo, “, Kyrylo Budanov, Schmidt, Vadim Ghirda, Dmytro Kuleba, Budanov, Valerie Zaluzhnyi, ’, Serhii Naiev, Zaluzhnyi’s, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Mick Ryan, –, Zaporizhzhia, Maxym, it’s Organizations: CNN, Presidential Press Service, Reuters, International Affairs, University of New, Getty, Ukrainian Military Intelligence, Biden, EU, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine Gold Star, Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, Ukraine’s Joint Forces, St, Budanov, Security Service, US Naval Institute ., Hungary Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Russian, Ukraine, Kupiansk, University of New Haven , Connecticut, Avdiivka, Anadolu, Zelensky, St Petersburg, Volgograd, Crimea, ”, US Naval Institute . Ukraine, Australian, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine Must Find Innovative Ways to Fight, New Commander Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Max HunderKYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's armed forces must adapt and find innovative ways to fight to achieve victory over Russian invaders, Kyiv's new armed forces chief said on Friday, in his first public remarks since taking command. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, previously commander of ground forces, was promoted on Thursday to overall command of Ukraine's 800,000-strong armed forces, the biggest shakeup of top brass since the war began, coming at a challenging time. The cautious, pragmatic tone was notably short of the soaring rhetoric used by Ukrainian politicians throughout the war. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesDefence Minister Rustem Umerov said he had introduced Syrskyi to the General Staff, and promised "all possible support for the actions and decisions of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". In his announcement yesterday, Zelenskiy said Syrskyi would present his new team with the aim of "resetting" the military.

Persons: Max Hunder, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Rustem Umerov, Umerov, Zelenskiy, Yuliia Dysa, Toby Chopra, Peter Graff Organizations: Max Hunder KYIV, General Staff, Armed Forces, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, United States, Avdiivka, Moscow, Bakhmut

☆ Ukraine's president visits troops on northeastern frontline
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy listens to Commander of the Ground Forces colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi as he visits a position of Ukrainian servicemen in the town of Kupiansk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine November 30, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreKYIV, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has visited troops near the Kupiansk sector of the frontline in the country's northeast, he announced on social media on Thursday. Zelenskiy posted a video of him visiting a command post in the area alongside one of Ukraine's top generals. The president thanked the troops for their sacrifices. Moscow has made some small, incremental gains in the area since September, but the front lines have not moved significantly.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskiy, Max Hunder, Yuliia, Alex Richardson Organizations: Ground Forces, Presidential Press, Thomson Locations: Kupiansk, Ukraine, Kharkiv region, KYIV, Moscow

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls for fortifications in key frontline areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Zelenskiy issued his appeal after touring Ukrainian positions in the northeast, one of several areas where Russian forces have been trying to make recent headway - and recapture areas taken back by Ukrainian troops a year ago. Russian occupying forces have built solid fortifications and minefields of their own in areas they have held since pouring over the border in February 2022. Military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun said Ukrainian forces had rebuffed Russian attacks on the coking plant. RUSSIAN DRIVE AROUND BAKHMUTRussian forces have also been pressing near contested villages surrounding the equally shattered town of Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces in May after months of fighting. Initial investigation showed Russian forces had dropped two bombs, in the second assault on the town throughout the day.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Rustem Umerov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskiy, Lyman, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Espreso, Avdiivka, Serhiy Hrabskyi, Hrabskyi, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates Organizations: Defence, Ground Forces, Presidential Press, Military, Reuters, Russian, Russia's Defence Ministry, Wednesday, Radio, Thomson Locations: Kupiansk, Ukraine, Kharkiv region, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Russia, Luhansk, Avdiivka, Russian, RUSSIAN, Bakhmut, Toretsk, Kostyantynivka

☆ Zelenskiy tells Ukrainians to prepare for Russian winter onslaught
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A military spokesman said Russian attacks on the shattered eastern town of Avdiivka had eased in the past day, but were likely to intensify in the coming days. Zelenskiy issued his warning during his nightly video address a day after Russian forces carried out their first missile attack on the capital, Kyiv in some seven weeks. In his remarks, Zelenskiy hailed the "heroic" efforts of troops defending Avdiivka, under pressure from attempted Russian advances since mid-October. Russian accounts of the fighting on Sunday said its forces had repelled five Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut. Ukraine's military has been increasingly active in attacking Russian-held areas, but does not always acknowledge the strikes.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, German Galushchenko, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ron Popeski, Maria Starkova, Grant McCool Organizations: Presidential Press Service, Energy, German, Avdiivka, Russian, Sunday, Reuters, Russia's National Guard, Thomson Locations: Ochakiv, Ukraine, Mykolaiv region, Avdiivka, Russian, Melitopol, Kyiv, Russia, Donetsk, Bakhmut

☆ Ukraine Says It Is Ready to Repel Russia's Offensive Actions in Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Russia captured Bakhmut, theatre of some of the bloodiest fighting of the 20-month-old war, in May. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June aimed at retaking occupied land in the country's south and east, including Bakhmut. "In the Bakhmut area, the enemy has significantly strengthened its grouping and switched from defence to active actions," General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's commander of ground forces, wrote on Telegram. In its nightly report, the Ukrainian General Staff said Kyiv's forces remained on the offensive near Bakhmut. "The enemy unsuccessfully tried to restore lost positions near Klishchiivka", it said, referring to a village south of Bakhmut recaptured by Ukraine in September.

Persons: Bakhmut, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Fityo, Fityo, Kyiv's, Yuliia, Tom Balmforth, Ron Popeski, Ed Osmond, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Reuters, Ukrainian, Staff Locations: Russia, Bakhmut, Ukraine, May, Ukrainian, Kupiansk, Klishchiivka, Synkivka

☆ Ukraine says it is ready to repel Russia's offensive actions in Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A military vehicle carrying servicemen of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade drives down a road during a reconnaissance mission, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Bakhmut, Ukraine September 7, 2023. Russia captured Bakhmut, theatre of some of the bloodiest fighting of the 20-month-old war, in May. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June aimed at retaking occupied land in the country's south and east, including Bakhmut. In its nightly report, the Ukrainian General Staff said Kyiv's forces remained on the offensive near Bakhmut. "The enemy unsuccessfully tried to restore lost positions near Klishchiivka", it said, referring to a village south of Bakhmut recaptured by Ukraine in September.

Persons: Stringer, Bakhmut, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Fityo, Fityo, Kyiv's, Yuliia, Tom Balmforth, Ron Popeski, Ed Osmond, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Assault Brigade, REUTERS, Reuters, Ukrainian, Staff, Thomson Locations: Ukraine’s, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russia, May, Ukrainian, Kupiansk, Klishchiivka, Synkivka

☆ Russian forces apply pressure on Ukraine's Avdiivka, Kupiansk
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view shows a heavily damaged residential building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine October 17, 2023. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said its troops had repelled about 10 Russian attacks on Avdiivka. It was briefly captured in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists who overran large stretches of territory in the east, and Ukrainian forces have erected solid fortifications in the intervening nine years. Local officials also said Russian forces had again shelled areas in the southern Kherson region that are under Kyiv's control. It said Russian forces had repelled three attacks outside Kupiansk and a further 10 near Bakhmut.

Persons: Yevhen, Vitaly Barabash, Barabash, Avdiivka, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Bakhmut, Syrskyi, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, General, U.S, Radio Liberty, Local, Russian, Monday, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Kupiansk, Avdiivka's, Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kyiv, Moscow, Bakhmut

☆ Russia aims to break through Ukraine defences in northeast - Ukrainian general
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Commander of the Ground Forces colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi reports to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a position near the front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Russia is aiming to break through Ukrainian defences in the Kupiansk-Lyman sector of the front line in northeastern Ukraine after a sharp increase in fighting there, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces said on Monday. The Ukrainian military reported in its daily update that fighting was raging along the eastern front, particularly around Kupiansk, and near Avdiivka and Mariinka in the Donetsk region. A strategically important town with a large coking plant, Avdiivka is located in the northern outskirts of the Donetsk region, much of which has been occupied by Russia. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said Ukrainian troops are holding their positions in the east.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Syrskyi, Yuliia Dysa, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: Ground Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Rights, Lyman, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Russia, Lyman, Ukrainian, Kupiansk, Avdiivka, Donetsk

☆ Top Ukraine general says fighting in northeast has 'significantly worsened'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Commander of the Ground Forces colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi reports to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a position near the front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Fighting along the northern portion of Ukraine's eastern front has "significantly worsened" in recent days, the commander of Kyiv's ground forces said on Saturday. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was visiting Ukrainian troops in the area, said Russian forces had regrouped after suffering losses and were attacking around the village of Makiivka and towards the city of Kupiansk. Syrskyi added that Russian forces were carrying out "dozens" of assaults each day, but that Ukrainian troops had been ready and were holding their ground. Reporting by Dan Peleschuk Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Dan Peleschuk, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Ground Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Rights, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukrainian, Makiivka, Kupiansk, Avdiivka, Bakhmut

☆ Ukraine retakes more territory in the east, south in counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces/via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine reported on Monday its troops had recaptured more territory on the eastern front and advanced in the south in its military counteroffensive against Russian forces. Kyiv's troops have liberated 51 square km (19 square miles) near Bakhmut since the start of the counteroffensive, Maliar said. Ukrainian forces are trying to advance toward the Sea of Azov in a southern drive intended to split Russian forces retook 5.2 square km (two square miles) in the past week, said Maliar. Overall, Ukraine regained more than 260 square km (100 square miles) in the south during the counteroffensive, she said. During its three-month-old counteroffensive, Ukraine has reported slow, steady progress against entrenched Russian positions, retaking a string of villages and advancing on the flanks of Bakhmut, but taking no major settlements.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Anna Pruchnicka, Michael Perry Organizations: Ground Forces, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, Deputy, Thomson Locations: Klishchiivka, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Azov, Russia

☆ Russia denies Ukraine has retaken Andriivka, Ukraine posts video of fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The commander of Ukraine's land forces posted a video purporting to show the capture of Andriivka amid a landscape of scorched territory and devastation. The account of fighting by Russia's Defence Ministry said its troops were still holding at least two key villages south of Bakhmut, known in Russia by its Soviet-era name, Artyomovsk. Things are hot in Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka," Maliar said on Telegram, referring to two other villages near the city. Maliar also reported that Russian forces had unsuccessfully tried to push through Ukrainian defences near two villages northwest of Bakhmut. Ukraine hopes to sever a land bridge Russia has created between annexed Crimea and territory it holds in the east.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Ron Popeski, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Ukrainian Armed Forces Press, REUTERS Acquire, Saturday, Russia's Defence Ministry, Donetsk People's, Staff, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, Russia, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Artyomovsk, Donetsk, Donetsk People's Republic, Klishchiivka, Azov, Crimea

☆ Russia to resume offensive in east Ukraine after regrouping, Kyiv says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Commander of the Ground Forces colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi reports to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a position near the front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Russia is regrouping in the Moscow-controlled eastern part of Ukraine in order to resume an offensive, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian military's ground forces, said on Friday. Syrskyi said that the main goal of these measures was to "increase the level of combat potential and resume active offensive operations". Syrskyi did not provide details of the Russian regrouping but said the forces continued heavy artillery and mortar shelling and air assaults. Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Lyman, Syrskyi, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Ground Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Rights, Russian Federation, Regional, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Russia, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kyiv

☆ Zelenskiy says Ukrainian strength dominates, top officers report progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russian accounts said Moscow's forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut, farther north where fierce fighting has also flared and on the southern front. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces faced fierce Russian resistance in all frontline sectors. Very fierce attacks," Zelenskiy said, referring to Bakhmut and other centres in the east. Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had thwarted eight Ukrainian attempts to advance near Bakhmut and nearby areas. Two Ukrainian attacks were countered near Lyman and Svatove farther north and attempted advances in the south were also stopped.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Viktor Khorenko, Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Serhiy Cherevatyi, Cherevatyi, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Leslie Adler, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Senior, Ukrainian, Russia's Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Russian, Bakhmut, Azov, Crimean, Moscow, Izmail, Lyman

☆ Ukraine says situation 'complicated' in east, Russia reports advancing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia and Ukraine differed in their accounts of the latest battles since Kyiv launched a counteroffensive early last month, but both sides signalled that fighting was fierce. "The situation is complicated but under control (in the east)," Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app. But Russia still holds vast swathes of territory following its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Ukrainian troops have encountered heavily defended positions and minefields. Russian troops were also continuing to send reserves to the Bakhmut sector in eastern Ukraine to try to stop Ukrainian forces advancing, Syrskyi said. The spokesperson reported heavy fighting for the settlement of Staromayorske southwest of the city of Donetsk, and said Ukrainian troops had the advantage there.

Persons: Read, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Lyman, Hanna Maliar, Vladimir Putin, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Heritage, Bernadette Baum Organizations: 420th Battalion, Kyiv, TASS, Reuters, Lyman, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Bakhmut, Donetsk Region, Ukrainian, KYIV, Moscow, Kupiansk, Russia, Kharkiv, Lyman, Staromayorske, Donetsk

☆ Russia mounts 'desperate resistance' near Bakhmut, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, June 16 (Reuters) - Advancing Ukrainian troops are facing "desperate resistance" from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut, a senior Ukrainian commander said on Friday. Realising this, the enemy units put up desperate resistance," Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app. The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back in and around Bakhmut. Syrskyi reiterated that the Ukrainian forces were also advancing in the south. Russia has not officially acknowledged the Ukrainian advances, and says Ukrainian troops have suffered heavy casualties, but Reuters has confirmed the liberation of at least two villages in the east.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: Russian, Military, Reuters, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine's Donetsk, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine says Russia taking heavy losses in south
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 16 (Reuters) - Advancing Ukrainian troops are facing "desperate resistance" from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut, and are inflicting big losses on Russian troops in the south, Ukrainian military chiefs said on Friday. Russia has not officially acknowledged Ukrainian advances in the early stages of a counteroffensive, and said it had inflicted heavy losses on Kyiv's forces in the previous 24 hours. The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back around Bakhmut. Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces were also advancing in the south. Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukrainian troops in the southern Tavriia sector, said there had been 36 combat engagements and 578 attacks in the past 24 hours in the sector.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: Reuters, Russian, ., Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Bakhmut, Russia, Ukrainian, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine refuses to accept loss of Bakhmut; Wagner mercenary boss downplays army's role in 'capture'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Ukrainian soldier of the 28th Brigade's Aerial Reconnaissance Regiment preparing equipment on a mission to the front south of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on May 17, 2023. Ukraine is refusing to concede defeat in the largely ruined eastern town of Bakhmut after Russian mercenary forces claimed they were now fully in control of the town after months of fighting. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that "Russia did not occupy Bakhmut" as he attended a news conference at the Group of Seven summit in Japan, rebuffing claims by Russia's mercenary Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin that his forces had fully captured the town in the Donetsk region on Saturday. The head of Ukraine's ground forces Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Sunday that his forces still controlled parts of Bakhmut and that they were not ready to give up. Meanwhile, Prigozhin downplayed the contribution of the regular Russian army in the claimed capture of the town, saying his fighters had been let down by the Russian Defense Ministry leadership.

☆ Ukraine claims foothold in part of Bakhmut, aims to encircle city
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A top Ukrainian general said Kyiv's forces controlled what he accepted was an "insignificant" part of Bakhmut, but said the foothold would be enough to enter the devastated city when the situation changed. Maliar added Ukrainian troops were still defending industrial and infrastructure facilities as well as a private sector of the city and had claimed part of the overlooking heights. Moscow has long claimed that capturing Bakhmut would be a stepping stone towards advancing deeper into the Donbas region it claims to have annexed from Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry said its forces had also destroyed a road bridge previously used by Ukrainian forces to reinforce Bakhmut as well as a Ukrainian ammunition warehouse. Biden said F-16s would not have helped Ukrainian forces with regard to Bakhmut but could "make a big difference in terms of being able to deal with what is coming down the road".

☆ Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Ukraine says closer to encircling Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FIGHTING* Ukrainian forces have partly encircled Bakhmut along the flanks and still control a part of the city, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said. * Russia claimed on Saturday to have fully captured Bakhmut, which would mark an end to the longest and bloodiest battle of the 15-month war and Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated troops and Wagner. * A Russian-installed official in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region said Kyiv had struck the Russian-held port city of Berdyansk with British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles. * Leaders of the world's richest democracies at the summit said they would not back down from supporting Ukraine. * INSIGHT-How Russians end up in a far-right militia fighting in Ukraine.

"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions," he said. The Kremlin, for its part, said it did not believe the added British hardware would change the course of the conflict. Moscow has acknowledged retreating north of the city, and the head of the Wagner private army fighting inside Bakhmut has said Russia's regular forces have fled positions on the northern and southern flanks. The public rift between Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and the commanders of regular Russian forces has deepened over the past two weeks, with Prigozhin releasing daily audio and video messages denouncing the Russian military brass. However, both he and the Kremlin dismissed a Washington Post report citing U.S. intelligence leaks that Prigozhin had offered to betray the positions of regular Russian forces in January in return for Kyiv pulling back some troops in Bakhmut.

☆ Ukraine hails its first offensive success in defence of Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ukrainian servicemen rest at their positions after a fight, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the front line city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 11, 2023. "The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces, said in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said heavy fighting continued in and around Bakhmut, and that "everything" was difficult there. Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 15 months ago, sees Bakhmut as a stepping stone to attacking other Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has said before that keeping up the defence of Bakhmut allows for the military to prepare its expected counteroffensive.

☆ Ukraine top commander: advance in Bakhmut is first success, city's defence continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

May 15 (Reuters) - The defence of Bakhmut continues and recent days have shown that Ukraine can move forward and counter the Russian forces there, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces Colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Monday. "The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction - that is the first successful offensive operation in the city's defence," Syrskyi, was quoted as saying on Ukraine's Media Military Centre Telegram messaging platform. "The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions ... The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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