Fighting on the northern part of Ukraine’s eastern front has “significantly escalated” in recent days, General Oleksandr Sirskyi, commander of the Kyiv Ground Forces, said on Saturday.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who visited Ukrainian troops in the area, said Russian forces had regrouped after losses and were attacking around the village of Makiyivka and towards the city of Kupyansk.

“The enemy’s main goal is to defeat the grouping of our troops, surround the city of Kupyansk and reach the Oskil River,” he said.

Sirsky added that Russian troops carry out “dozens” of attacks every day, but Ukrainian troops were prepared and holding their positions.

Meanwhile, Kremlin forces also struck the strategic Ukrainian city of Avdiivtsi, on another stretch of the eastern front, in what Russian and Western officials said was a new offensive.

The four-month Ukrainian counteroffensive has made some progress both in the east, near Bakhmut, and in the south, where Kyiv hopes to reach the Sea of ​​Azov, but progress has been gradual.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi is considered the most feared Ukrainian commander after his successes during the war.

The general led the defense of Kyiv in the first months of the war and led the Ukrainian offensive from Kharkiv.