Since the start of the counteroffensive on June 4, Ukrainian troops have liberated almost as much territory as Russia conquered in six months, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, quoted by Sky News.

ISW claims that in the five weeks since Ukrainian forces began attacking Russian positions, they have recaptured about 253 square kilometers of territory.

The American think tank compared this situation to a situation where Russian forces captured a total of 282 square kilometers across the entire theater of operations as of January 1, 2023.

ISV also referred to the notification of the Ukrainian General Staff that during the past week, Kyiv troops liberated four square kilometers of territory in the direction of Bakhmut.

The devastated city of Bakhmut was captured by Russian forces with the help of Wagner’s mercenaries in May in the longest and bloodiest battle since the start of the war, a confrontation reminiscent of the other bloodiest battle in history, which turned the tide of the Battle of Verdun into a massacre.

Both Ukraine and Russia suffered heavy losses in the battle for Bakhmut, and Kyiv troops are trying to retake it.

Ukrainian troops advance to the south of Bakhmut

Ukrainian troops managed to advance to the south of Bakhmut, reported the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine. .

Hanna Malyar said that the defense forces are now near the borders of the destroyed city in the east of the country.

The Ukrainian army also repelled the Russian troops who tried to advance in the direction of Kupyansk, Lymansk, Avdiyivka and Marinsk, Malyar reported in Telegram.

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