Kiev forces have advanced in the area of the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropilya, recapturing 188 square kilometers from Russian troops and establishing control over another 250 square kilometers that had previously been no-man's land, Reuters reported, citing a statement on Monday by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, BTA reports.
The Ukrainian army chief, who visited the eastern Donetsk region, said Ukrainian servicemen were stepping up pressure in the Dobropilya area to divert Russian troops from the nearby key town – Pokrovsk.
Syrsky reported that today he continues to work in the Donetsk region, in particular in the area of responsibility of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reported.
The Commander-in-Chief listened to reports from the commanders on the ground on the current situation and urgent needs. The focus of attention was on ensuring logistics, as well as the actions of the assault groups to push Russian forces out of urban areas.
"We are reinforcing the troops with additional units, weapons, equipment, including unmanned systems. We are increasing the pressure in the Dobropil sector. We continue to liberate and clear the territories, which forces the enemy to disperse its forces and makes it impossible to concentrate its main efforts in the Pokrovsk region,“ noted Syrsky, quoted by Ukrinform.