The Ukrainian army on Friday reported “fierce fighting” on the left bank of the Dnieper, occupied by Russian troops in the south of the country, but where Ukraine managed to win, reports AFP.

In this area, from where the Russian troops are trying to dislodge the Ukrainians, “fierce fighting continues,” the headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on social networks.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine said it had seized positions on the occupied bank of the Dnieper in Kherson Oblast (south), marking the first success in sight of larger operations after months of disappointing counteroffensives for Kyiv.

“Ukrainian units managed to knock out the Russians from their positions on the left bank of the river,” the General Staff said, reporting on “a fairly significant line of fortifications” and “strong enemy resistance.”

The Ukrainian military also conducts “sabotage-raiding and reconnaissance operations” on the occupied coast, it added.

The purpose of these operations is to “push the enemy as far as possible” from the river, in order to prevent him from shelling the city of Kherson and other cities on the right bank controlled by Kyiv troops.

On the Russian side, an official representative in the occupied Kherson region admitted this week that the Ukrainians have positions on the left bank, but assured that the Russian army blocked them.

For its part, the Ministry of Defense of Russia does not publicly admit that it was forced to give in, and declares that it has caused Ukraine great losses in this direction.