Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattack in 5 frontline areas, strike Russia’s rear positions

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported the information.

Analysts say that the Ukrainian Defense Forces have launched a coordinated series of strikes to weaken Russian logistics and disrupt ground lines of communication along the entire perimeter of the fighting.

The Ukrainian military reportedly advanced in the Bakhmut direction, in particular southwest of Berkhivka, located 6 kilometers northwest of Bakhmut. In addition, they advanced west of Yahidne, located 2 kilometers north of Bakhmut, and southwest of Bakhmut itself.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces also launched a series of missile attacks on Russian rear positions along the entire front. They hit an ammunition depot in Makiivka, Donetsk region. In addition, Ukrainian troops struck Russian positions near Debaltseve and on a railway station in Yasynuvata.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

On June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive on the southern frontline, continuing a series of offensives near Bakhmut and in other directions.

On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced the liberation of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka settlements, near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. On the morning of June 12, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Ukrainian state flag was raised again over Storozhove, Donetsk region.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under occupation since 2014.

On June 26, Hanna Maliar reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced 1 to 2 kilometers on the eastern frontline in the past week. During the offensive in the southern direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated 130 square kilometers. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also de-occupied the village of Rivnopil, Donetsk region. 

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace stated that Ukraine has already liberated more territory as part of the summer counteroffensive campaign than Russia had captured during the entire winter offensive.

But Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that the already liberated settlements were not the "main event" but rather the prelude to a major counteroffensive.

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War believe that the Russian military is likely to deploy additional forces from other areas near Bakhmut in response to Ukrainian offensives in the area.

On the morning of July 3, Hanna Maliar reported that the Defense Forces advanced in the southern and eastern directions. Over the past week, the Ukrainian military liberated about 38 square kilometers. 

On July 4, it was reported that Ukrainian military forces were advancing on the southern flank around Bakhmut in Donetsk region and in the south.