Ilia Yevlash, head of the press service of the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Grouping of Troops, said this on the Espreso TV channel.
"The situation near Chasiv Yar is very difficult. The Russian army continues to move in the area of Ivanivske, using its assault units, artillery, grenade launchers, mortars of various calibres and aviation. However, the number of aircraft has decreased slightly, and the number of attacks has been halved. The enemy continues to press with assault groups both from the flanks and in the forefront near Bohdanivka and Ivanivske. Heavy fighting is ongoing in the Bakhmut sector, and it is in Ivanivske that the key objective of further success and the enemy's offensive is being decided," he said.
The main goal of the Russians is Chasiv Yar. After Chasiv Yar, they will be able to gain a foothold to continue their offensive on Kostyantynivka and, from the southern flank, on the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration, Yevlash said.
"From the northern flank, the enemy is moving its troops from Synkivka towards Yampolivka and Terny. The invaders will further develop the offensive across the Lyman to the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration. The enemy always tries to use this tactic by approaching from the flanks. It is worth noting that the enemy is not making any progress in the Lyman-Kupyansk sector, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are managing to hold the front," he concluded.