Ukrainian Armed Forces confirm they are seizing the initiative in the Bakhmut sector

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are seizing the initiative in the Bakhmut sector and are trying to counterattack, and have advanced up to 500 meters in various areas of the Armed Forces over the past 24 hours.

A spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Cherevaty, said this on the air of a national news telethon. He made this statement against the backdrop of the American Institute for the Study of War's claim that Ukraine seized the initiative near Bakhmut.

Earlier, the ISW noted that Ukrainian troops seized the tactical initiative and achieved tactically significant successes in the Bakhmut area during counteroffensive operations, on May 18.

The institute said that the relevant operations of the Ukrainian forces are a continuation of the local counteroffensives that they have been conducting for several days, but are not the beginning of a new major operation.

"The situation is very difficult in this area but controlled. We can see the enemy's intentions, predict them, and anticipate them. We can say that yes, there is a certain element of us taking the initiative and trying to counterattack," said Cherevaty.

Cherevaty added that Bakhmut remains the enemy's priority target. Over the last day, 10 occurrences took place, the enemy fired at Ukrainian positions 477 times and carried out 9 air raids. 141 occupants were killed, 220 were wounded and one was taken prisoner.

"The enemy continues to conduct attacks directly in the city. Our units, where possible, are also putting pressure on the enemy and continuing to advance across the territory. In particular, our defenders managed to advance up to 500 meters in different directions over the last day.

Serhiy Cherevaty

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