Advances in some areas of Donetsk region are difficult, a senior Moscow official in the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine said on Tuesday, adding that more than half of the region is under Russian control.

Russian military in Donetsk regionPhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

The so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” is one of the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow “annexed” in September after “front” referenda.

“Slightly more than 50% of the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic has been liberated,” Denys Pushylin, the Russian-appointed leader of the Moscow-controlled part, told the Russian state news agency RIA.

His statement came at a time when, after fierce fighting in the region in recent weeks, it is not very clear which parts of Donetsk are under Russian control and which are under Ukrainian control.

Russia claims that its troops are gradually advancing.

However, Pusilin said the situation is difficult along the Liman demarcation line in the north of the region. Ukraine released Liman hours after Putin announced the annexation of Donetsk in September.

“The situation remains difficult, the enemy is trying to counterattack, but our units are now holding all positions,” Pusilin said, as quoted by RIA. “It is not always possible to advance,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Friday that continuous shelling by Russia on the Donetsk front completely destroyed the city of Bakhmut and severely damaged the city of Avdiyivka, located in the center of the region.

On Monday evening, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that Russia continues to focus its efforts on the advance and capture of both cities: “Near Bakhmut, the occupiers shelled almost 20 settlements with mortars and artillery”, nine settlements were bombed near Avdiivka. , – reported the Ukrainian military.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said Russia may still be planning deeper offensives in Donetsk, but questioned its ability to do so: “It is highly unlikely that the Russian military is currently capable of creating an effective strike force capable of repelling these areas. . It is unlikely that Russian ground forces will make significant operational progress in the next few months.”