CNN —Ukrainian forces have suffered losses in heavy equipment and soldiers as they met greater than expected resistance from Russian forces in their first attempt to breach Russian lines in the east of the country in recent days, two senior US officials tell CNN. One US official described the losses – which include US supplied MRAP armored personnel vehicles as “significant.”Ukrainian forces managed to overrun some Russian forces in the east around Bakhmut. Today is a successful day for our forces.”Both US officials say the losses are not expected to impact the larger planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian Ministry of Defense claimed Wednesday that the Ukrainian offensive close to Bakhmut was “thwarted”. The enemy was destroyed.”Moscow often inflates claims regarding Ukrainian losses on the battlefield.

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Persons: Hanna Maliar, ” Maliar, Bakhmut, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Russian Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces of, Wall Street, NATO, Kyiv ” Locations: Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Western, Armed Forces of Ukraine, South Donetsk, Donetsk, Artyomovsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Dnipro, Kherson, Ukraine’s, “, Crimea