Russian forces may leave Bakhmut and surrender soon – Ukrainian soldier

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"Russian forces deploy the mobilised soldiers from the so-called LDPR, deploy the Storm Z units, which are subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Defence. They do not spare their soldiers. Our guys are heroically neutralising them. Ukrainian soldiers are experienced and know how to fight. The Ukrainian Defence Forces are capturing strategic locations around Bakhmut. We need to surround Bakhmut without entering the city itself. In the near future, in two to three weeks, the occupying Russian forces will leave and surrender," said Ivanochko.

According to him, the main task for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is to concentrate all forces and prevent the enemy from breaking through the defences in the Lyman sector.

"In the southern direction, Ukrainian defenders are also managing to put pressure on the enemy and advance to liberate Melitopol and Berdiansk from the occupiers and move on to Crimea," said Ivanochko.

• On July 19, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the enemy’s main focus is the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. Over 20 combat engagements took place there over the past day.

• Ukrainian forces continue to counterattack in the Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdiansk sectors. In the course of hostilities, the Russian forces were forced to retreat from their positions north-east of Orikhovo-Vasylivka.