Moscow says Russian troops gain more ground along frontlines in Ukraine

Russia says its troops have managed to gain fresh ground along the frontlines in Ukraine as the conflict nears its first anniversary.

In a statement on Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Russian forces pushed forward two kilometers west, without specifying the exact location.

“The Russian servicemen broke the enemy’s resistance and advanced several kilometers deeper into its echeloned defense,” it said, as much of the intense fighting is taking place around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which is still in Ukrainian hands amid a months-long battle.

The salt mining town in the eastern region of Donetsk is Moscow’s prime objective and its capture would give Russia a fresh foothold in the region.

The battle to seize the heavily-fortified town has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, which has made small but steady gains. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner Group, said a day earlier that his forces had seized the village of Krasna Hora, on the northern edge of Bakhmut.

Kiev said its forces had repelled Russian attacks in a number of areas, with its army saying on Saturday that Ukrainian troops held their defense along the frontline in Donetsk and in some areas have even managed to regain previously lost positions.