Ukraine’s army says it is continuing its counteroffensive around Klishchiivka in eastern Ukraine after announcing last night that its forces have recaptured the key village.

“The key village is near the Russian-controlled city of Bakhmut. Defence Forces continue assault operations in the vicinity of Klishchiyivka, inflict significant losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy, and consolidate their new positions,” the Ukrainian General Staff wrote on its Facebook page on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Russian forces were trying in vain to break through the Ukrainian defence line near the neighbouring village of Andriivka.

This is according to the statement published in English.

Recent weeks have seen heavy fighting around Klishchiivka, a village long held by Russian forces.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the recapture of the village in the Donetsk region, which they said came after the retaking of nearby Andriivka.

Both villages are located several kilometres south of Bakhmut, which Russian forces only managed to occupy after months of fierce fighting.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive, which has also focused on southern Ukraine, has retaken only a small amount of the territory occupied by Russian forces since they invaded Ukraine in February last year.

(dpa/NAN)