Ukraine claims ‘partial success’ in southern front against Russia

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine on Wednesday claimed a “partial success” in the southern front against Russia.

“Our defenders had partial success in the direction of Urozhaine, Pryiutne and Verbove. Now they are fixed at the achieved boundaries,” Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement on Telegram.

She said that that the Ukrainian army continued to conduct offensives in the direction of Melitopol and Berdiansk, adding that Russia conducted "unsuccessful attacks" near Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sieverne, Marinka, Novomykhailivka, and Staromaiorske.

In the east, Maliar said, the main direction of the Russian offensive continued to be Kupiansk, where she claimed an offensive group tried to advance “without success.”

“The operational situation is complex, but under control. The defense forces of Ukraine courageously hold back the enemy's offensive there,” Maliar said, adding that Russia has been “unsuccessful” in its offensives near the village of Synkivka in the Kharkiv region for the past several days.

“The goal of the enemy in the Kupiansk direction is to break through the defense of our troops and go directly to Kupiansk,” she added.

She further claimed that Russia also made constant attempts to advance in restoring its lost positions on the outskirts of Klishchiivka and Zaitseve in the Bakhmut district of the Donetsk region.

“Both in the East and in the South, the enemy is currently suffering significant losses in personnel, weapons, and equipment. During these days, our defense forces have significantly reduced the offensive and defensive potential of the enemy and prevented it from implementing its plans,” she said.

Russian authorities have not yet commented on the claims, which could not be independently verified due to the ongoing war.