Russian forces start storming Maryinka, Avdiivka – Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister

She said this during a telethon.

Maliar explained that the Russian forces decided to switch to this strategy because they have not been able to capture these settlements for about a year.

"Speaking of the east, the situation in Maryinka and Avdiivka has escalated. The Russians have increased the number of attacks there, moreover, they have started assaults," she noted.

Maliar also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are advancing in the southern areas, but the enemy is not ready to give up.

"If we talk, for example, about the liberated settlements, it is clear that the Russians do not want to give up so easily. If we are talking about Robotyne, it was taken under control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but there are very serious battles around the settlement. At the same time, there is progress," explained Maliar.

According to her, the intensity of hostilities in the Kupyansk-Lyman sector is decreasing.

"The number of hostilities there has significantly decreased. There were days when there was only shelling, but the actual number of clashes was minimized. But this does not mean that the enemy has abandoned its plans or retreated. No, they are just gathering their forces, preparing, and are not abandoning their tasks to reach Kupyansk and occupy the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions," the official added.

Nevertheless, Maliar emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making steady progress in the Bakhmut sector.

• The Ukrainian Armed Forces have partial success in the areas of Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region, and Robotyne, Zaporizhzhya region: they are pushing the enemy out and consolidating their positions.