Heavy fighting rages in the east....

Ukraine claims more gains along southern frontline as "heavy fighting" rages in the east

From Maria Kostenko and Alex Stambaugh 

Ukrainian forces appear to be making further advances along the southern frontline, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday.

Maliar told national television troops were moving southeast of the liberated village of Robotyne toward the settlements of Novodanylivka, Novoprokopivka and Ocheretuvate in the Zaporizhzhia region.

"The enemy is throwing all its forces at these areas in order not to surrender the occupied positions," Maliar said. 

In the east: "Heavy fighting" continues, in particular around Kupiansk, Lyman, Avdiivka, Mariinka and the embattled city of Bakhmut, Maliar said. 

"Bakhmut is a very hot area. We have weekly advances to the east, gradual but steady," she said. "The enemy is attacking on the northern flank, they want to recapture the positions we have taken. This is what we are fighting for now." 

Ukrainian forces have liberated an additional 1 square kilometer around Bakhmut, bringing the total area recaptured near the city to 44 square kilometers, she added.

Maliar also said fighting continues in the village of Klishchiivka and Ukrainian forces are advancing in the area of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, northwest of Bakhmut. 

Elsewhere in the Donetsk region, Maliar said fierce fighting and a "powerful confrontation" continues in Avdiivka and Mariinka, adding, "the enemy is not successful."

In northeastern Kupiansk and nearby Lyman, "Russians are gathering new forces ... regrouping, trying to use their most professional units — the air assault units," Maliar said, adding, "they have not been successful."