The fluid situation near Bakhmut has been the focus of much attention, with Ukraine noting gains on the city's southern fringe, particularly the strategic village of Klishchiivka. Liberating the village, which lies on higher ground, would give Ukrainian forces operational advantage in potentially encircling Russian forces in Bakhmut, analysts say. Ukraine said on Monday it controlled heights ringing the village, enabling it to fire on targets in Bakhmut itself. The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had repelled nine attempted Ukrainian advances in eastern Donetsk region, including one drive near Kliishchivka. Ukrainian military analyst Serhiy Hrabskyi said Ukraine's drive towards the coast was proceeding well, taking account of Russian defence preparations and extensive mining.

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Persons: Sofiia, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Andriy Kovaliov, Oleksander Tarnavskyi, Serhiy Hrabskyi, Ron Popeski, Nick Starkov, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, General Staff, Russian Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Bakhmut, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Russian, Klishchiivka, Donetsk, Kliishchivka, Azov, Crimea, Ukrainian, Winnipeg, Kyiv