The Russian Defense Ministry said today that its armed forces are continuing fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, claiming that Russian troops have killed more than 220 Ukrainian militants in the past 24 hours.

“In the direction of Donetsk… more than 220 Ukrainian soldiers were killed. During the day, an infantry fighting vehicle, three armored fighting vehicles, seven other vehicles, as well as a D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

Both sides claim to have suffered significant losses on both sides and it is difficult to confirm the numbers they announce.

Ukraine announced yesterday that more than 500 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded in the previous 24 hours as they fought for control of the town of Bakhmut.

Russian troops, as well as groups of mercenaries from the Wagner company, occupied areas in the eastern part of the city, as well as suburbs on its northern and southern sides, but they have not yet succeeded in completely surrounding it.

Moscow says the capture of Bakhmut would be a blow to Ukraine’s defenses and a step towards the complete takeover of the industrial region of Donbass, which is the main target of the Russian military.

Source: Reuters, APE-MPE.