On Friday, the Russian military said heavy fighting was taking place in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, saying more than 21 Ukrainian tanks had been destroyed in the fighting at key areas of the front line.

A representative of the Russian group of forces “Vostok” reported that 13 Ukrainian tanks were destroyed as a result of hostilities in the Zaporizhzhia region, and eight in the Donetsk region. He reported fighting with artillery, drones and infantry.

Reuters says it cannot independently verify claims from the battlefield.

In a message on Thursday evening, Ukrainian President Zelenskyi said that “heavy fighting” is taking place in the Donetsk region in the east of the country, and his troops have “results”.

Russian military bloggers reported that there was fierce fighting on the Zaporozhye Front in the area of ​​the city of Orykhiv, as Ukraine tried to break through the defenses of the Russian Federation and create a breach.

Russia said Ukraine launched a major offensive on Sunday morning, initially in southern Donetsk, but Moscow said its forces repelled the attacks. Ukraine accused Moscow of spreading lies.

The Ukrainian army has launched a long-awaited counteroffensive in the war with Russia, opening a decisive stage in the confrontation with Moscow’s forces, the Washington Post wrote on Thursday.

Ukrainian forces have had some success near Bakhmut, but have suffered “significant” losses in personnel and heavy equipment, according to US officials quoted by CNN.

On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Serhii Shoigu said that his troops repelled an attack by Ukrainian troops in the Zaporizhia region in southern Ukraine at night.

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