Ukraine strengthens its offense... "Recapture the highlands near Bakhmut''

The war in Ukraine appears to have entered a new phase. Ukrainian forces are counter-attacking Russian forces on all sides of the front line. In particular, the Ukrainian army is making moves to retake Bakhmut, a strategic area occupied by the Russian army in April.

According to Reuters and other sources on June 5th (local time), Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Marial of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced via a Telegram channel on the same day that "the Ukrainian military is shifting to an offensive [from the front line]. The focus (of the offensive) is on Bahmut," the state broadcaster said. Marial explained that Ukrainian forces are currently advancing towards Bakhmut from the west, south and north respectively.

"Thank you to all the soldiers, the defenders and all the people who have delivered the long-awaited news. Good job to the soldiers of Bakhmut," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video released on the same day. It suggested that the Ukrainian army had put up a good fight. However, he did not disclose the specifics of the battle.

Evgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, also confirmed that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Berhibka, northwest of Bakhmut.

Bakhmut is an important transport and industrial hub in eastern Ukraine, and the site of the most fierce battles of this war. After more than 10 months of offensive, Russia succeeded in seizing Bakhmut last month. If the Ukrainian army enters Bakhmut again, it will be a turning point that will divide the war situation.

The Ukrainian military has stepped up its counterattack against Russia since the day before. This is because tanks, ammunition, and other weapons provided by the West are being handed over one after another, and the ground, which had been a muddy battle throughout the winter, has become hardened, making it easier to engage in armored battles. The Ukrainian military is said to be conducting operations mainly in Donetsk and Luhansk, which are under Russian control. However, Ukraine has not clarified whether these operations are part of the "spring counterattack" it has been teasing.

Russia has acknowledged the Ukrainian offensive but claims it has suppressed it. Russia's Defense Ministry said on the same day that it thwarted an attack by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region, resulting in the loss of more than 1,500 Ukrainian troops.