Admittedly The Russian Army Makes Progress In Bakhmut, Ukrainian Military: Our Fighters Defend The City

Ukrainian soldiers in the protective ditch in Bakhmut. (Twitter/@DefenceU Viktor Bominets)

JAKARTA - Russian troops have achieved several successes in the city of Bakhmut, the eastern front line, Ukrainian military officials said late Wednesday, but ensured their fighters remained in the battle that had lasted for several months.

The mining city of Bakhmut and surrounding cities in eastern industrial area of Donetsk, has been the focal point of attack during the 13 months of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. No party has full control. Both Russia and Ukraine suffered heavy losses.

"Enstrict forces have a fairly high level of success in their action storming Bakhmut City," the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a routine evening report.

"Our fighters defended the city and fended off many enemy attacks," the report added.

The average number of Russian daily attacks on the front lines reported by Ukrainian general staff has decreased for four consecutive weeks since early March, to 69 attacks in the past seven days from 124 attacks on week 1-7 March. Yesterday, only 57 attacks were reported.

Separately, Russian officials said their troops continued to seize territory in the fighting from the road to the streets within Bakhmut.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian military analyst Zhdanov, who had served in the military, said that although the attack on Bakhmut remained intense, "the conclusion is that Russian troops are starting to move from one place to another".

However, Zhdanov, like the general staff, said that Ukrainian fighters still control Bakhmut.

"Now it seems the enemy has shifted its focus to the city itself, that's where the toughest fighting is at this time," Zhdanov said in a YouTube video.

Earlier, the British Ministry of Defense this week described the progress of Russian troops as "marginal". Meanwhile, on Wednesday, US top general Mark Milley told lawmakers, for the past 20 to 21 days, Russian troops had made no progress in and around Bakhmut.

Apart from Bakhmut, Ukrainian military also said that there was a new shooting in Kherson City in the south, along with other cities on the west bank of the Dnipro River that divide the country.