Ukrainian officials say that Russian attention in eastern Donetsk region has shifted somewhat, but the city of Bakhmut and the destroyed towns of Marinka and Avdiyivka remain at the center of Russian attacks, CNN reports.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Monday that over the past day, Russian planes have carried out 47 airstrikes and repelled more than 30 ground assaults.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold parts of the city of Bakhmut and the access road from the west. The General Staff stated that “during the day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of Novomarkovo and Gromov”, settlements located to the northwest and west of the city.

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar said that in the Bakhmut region, the Russians used what she called “Syrian tactics” of complete destruction of buildings and facilities.

“At the same time, our defenders conduct active assault actions and prevent the enemy from taking control of the city,” said Malyar.

A soldier serving in the Bakhmut area, Yuriy Syrotyuk of the 5th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, said the Russians had air superiority but did not fly over the front line because Ukrainian units had “a lot of portable means” of air defense.

Like Malyar, Syrotyuk stated: “We had no problems with this: “The enemy is trying to completely destroy our defenses. They drop heavy bombs on buildings in the city, which completely destroy them. The enemy leads his infantry to the sound of artillery fire.

But, he says, “what the enemy gains with terrible losses, we often repulse in one day.”

He stated that Ukraine returned the trenches near the village of Gromove.

The painter noted the decrease in Russian attacks on the part of the front line that had been very active for several months – near the Ukrainian-controlled city of Lyman.