Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated this on Telegram.
"The enemy's offensive actions in the Bakhmut direction have somewhat subsided today, although the frequency of shelling remains consistently high," she noted.
Malyar further mentioned that the intensity of fighting in the city of Bakhmut has diminished, and the enemy continues to consolidate their control over certain areas. However, our troops maintain control over the southwestern outskirts of the city, particularly in the "Litak" district.
Furthermore, she highlighted that Ukrainian forces have made slight advances on the flanks to the north and south of Bakhmut.
On May 20, the leader of the Russian Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, released a video with a statement about the alleged complete occupation of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut by Russians. In response, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar said that there were heavy battles in Bakhmut and the situation was critical. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are holding the defense in the Litak district.
The Ukrainian General Staff's evening (May 20) and morning (May 21) reports mentioned the ongoing battle for the city. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of the city at midnight on May 21.
On May 21, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had taken Bakhmut in a semi-circumscribed position, which makes it possible to destroy Russians, Russians in the controlled part of the city have to defend themselves. On the same day, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky, commander of the Land Forces, said that Ukrainian soldiers were advancing along the flanks in the suburbs of Bakhmut and were actually approaching the city's tactical encirclement. And the spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty, emphasized that Ukrainian defenders advanced by about 200 meters in some areas near Bakhmut on Sunday. In addition, they continue to hold the southwestern part of the city.
On May 22, the spokesperson for the Eastern Military Group, Serhiy Cherevaty, said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had advanced even further near Bakhmut over the day, by 200 to 400 meters.
On the morning of May 23, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian troops were on the offensive in the Bakhmut direction. And the fighting for the city of Bakhmut continues.