Russian forces are actively preparing to defend their positions in Svatove, Kreminna - Serhii Cherevatyi

He shared the details with Espreso TV. 

"During the past day, Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated the village of Hlushkivka, Kharkiv region, and the village of Hrekivka, Luhansk region. Now the counteroffensive operation in the east continues. The enemy is very intensively preparing Kreminna and Svatove for defense. They are bringing civil and military engineering equipment there," he said.

The Eastern Group of Forces spokesman emphasized that Ukrainian artillery is preventing the invaded Russian forces from preparing for defense.

"Our artillery does not give the occupiers peace. We are trying by all means to prevent them from carrying out work on the preparation of Svatove and Kreminna for defense. The artillerymen with Ukraine's Armed Forces do not allow the occupiers to prepare for effective defense," he added.