Infantry fighting continues at close range near Bakhmut - Freedom battalion officer Ilienko

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"The situation is difficult in the Bakhmut sector. The battle for Bakhmut has been going on since mid-summer, the battle is intense and tense. The enemy is trying to conduct offensive actions, the Ukrainian defense is repelling these attempts. Infantry fighting at close range continues," noted Ilienko.

The officer of the Freedom battalion also added that Ukrainian units in the Bakhmut sector are performing combat missions with dignity, destroying the enemy and holding their positions.

"The enemy is attempting to surround the city from the south and north and to reach the roads connecting Bakhmut. Thus, the enemy is trying to surround the city from the flanks," explained Ilienko.

• According to analysts at the Institute for War Studies, Russian military personnel are likely to gradually replace the exhausted Wagner soldiers to continue the offensive on Bakhmut

• Russian troops are advancing at the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Vuhledar directions. However, Ukrainian soldiers continue to repel the enemy's attacks and have neutralised about 20 occupying Russian soldiers and targeted 2 areas of manpower concentration.