2023-06-18 11:20:32
There are heavy casualties on both sides in the early stages of the Ukrainian counter-offensive once morest the Russians, British officials said on Monday.
British military officials described a regular assessment of the situation as showing that Russian losses were at their highest levels since the Battle of Bahmut in March.
British intelligence said the fiercest fighting was concentrated in the southeastern Zaporizhia region, near Bakhmut and west of the eastern Donetsk region.
It also assessed that while Ukrainian forces had advanced slightly through offensive operations in these areas, Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said in a regular briefing on the morning of the 18th that in the past 24 hours, Russian forces had carried out 43 airstrikes, 4 missile strikes and 51 multiple rocket attacks.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that 26 battles had been fought as Russian forces continued to intensively attack industrial areas in the eastern Donetsk region, including Bakhmut, Audiuca, Marinka and Liman.
Donetsk Governor Paulo Kirilenko said on the 17th that two civilians were killed and three injured.
Ukrainian officials also said Russia had also struck other areas in the east and south.
Odessa regional government spokesman Serhiy Brachuk said Ukrainian forces had destroyed an important Russian military ammunition depot in the port city of Henichesk, near Kherson Oblast.
VOA News
1687091345
#British #military #authorities #early #stages #counteroffensive #heavy #casualties #sides #Ukraine #Russia
