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Ukraine reports gains on eastern and southern fronts against Russia

31.10.2023 07:30
Ukrainian forces have made gains near the eastern city of Bakhmut and in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region as they continue their counteroffensive against Russia’s invading army, according to the latest battlefield reports. 
Photo:
Photo:Sgt. Alex Skripnichuk, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ukraine’s military command provided its latest frontline update via Facebook on Monday night. 

Ukrainian troops are pushing on with their counteroffensive in the direction of the southern port of Melitopol, in Zaporizhzhia, and near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk province, the General Staff in Kyiv said. 

Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances both near Bakhmut and in Zaporizhzhia, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 

Ukrainian forces have advanced northeast of Kurdyumivka, 10 km southwest of Bakhmut, the US think tank reported, citing geolocated footage posted on Monday.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops have also marginally progressed west of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia, as indicated by geolocated footage published on Sunday, the ISW said.

Ukrainian forces are “inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, exhausting the enemy all along the front line,” the General Staff in Kyiv stated.

In all, Ukrainian and Russian troops clashed 30 times in frontline combat on Monday, the Espreso TV website reported.

Russian attacks

Russia on Monday launched seven missile attacks, 47 air strikes and 43 attacks with multiple-launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukrainian troops, as well as at populated areas, according to Ukraine’s military command.

Russia fired 12 Shahed attack drones, two Kh-59 guided missiles and four Iskander-M ballistic missiles against Ukraine, among other strikes, with Ukraine’s air defence destroying all the Russian unmanned aerial vehicles and two guided missiles, Espreso TV reported.

These attacks resulted in injuries among civilians, as well as damage and destruction of private houses and other civilian facilities, according to Ukrainian authorities. 

Russian troops hit a shuttle bus in Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson, injuring at least seven people, Espreso TV reported.

Ukrainian strikes

Meanwhile, Ukraine on Monday conducted 19 air strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, and a strike on a Russian anti-aircraft missile system, Ukraine’s General Staff said.

Ukraine also struck missiles into a Russian air defence system, five concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, nine Russian artillery systems and “six other important targets,” according to the military command in Kyiv. 

As part of its latest counteroffensive against Russia, Ukraine is pushing through Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, in a bid to reach the port of Melitopol on the Sea of Azov, as well as aiming to retake Bakhmut in the east, among other objectives.

Tuesday is day 615 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

(pm/gs)

Source: Espreso TV, ISW, facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua, Euromaidan Press