Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky boasted of a “good result“ on the front line in his evening video address, but did not provide further details, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
However, the president praised the actions of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, hinting that the action took place near the city of Pokrovsk.
“There is a good result“, Zelensky said. “It would be inappropriate to describe the geography. I will not make it political, but I want to congratulate the guys from the 425th Separate Assault Regiment. Your strength clearly matters. Bravo!“, he added.
Russian forces have been advancing on Pokrovsk for weeks as part of their steady advance in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where they have seized a number of villages.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced last night the capture of the village of Vodyanye Druy, northeast of Pokrovsk.
Russian bloggers said the capture of Vodyanye Druy would allow Russian forces to cut off Ukrainian supply lines.
Zelensky's upbeat comments followed several days of reports of intense fighting around the town and Ukrainian efforts to push back Russian forces.
The 425th Regiment mentioned by Zelensky released a video this week saying it had pushed Russian forces out of another village west of Pokrovsk.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian military group Khortytsia said heavy fighting had gripped areas along the road that runs from Pokrovsk east to the town of Konstantinovka.
“It is not entirely clear who controls the road or the villages along it“, spokesman Viktor Tregubov told public broadcaster Suspilne.
“That is where fighting is taking place with varying results. Ukrainian forces are regaining their positions in certain sectors, Russian troops are trying to dig in and hold some small villages“, he added.
At least one foreign blogger reported Ukrainian counterattacks in the area, particularly southeast of Pokrovsk.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last night discussed “the need for bold diplomacy“ to end the Russia-Ukraine war during a conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Szybiga, the State Department announced.
“They (Rubio and Szybiga) discussed the need for bold diplomacy to end the war through negotiations leading to a sustainable peace“, the State Department said in a statement, adding that the top U.S. diplomat also stressed Washington's commitment to Ukrainian independence.
On Wednesday, Trump said he did not believe it was practical for Ukraine to join NATO and that it was unlikely to regain all of its territory, Reuters recalls.