Ukrainian forces have strengthened the battlefield in the region of eastern Ukraine where the Russian army made a surprise breakthrough this week and broke through Ukrainian defenses, Reuters reported, citing the regional governor of Donetsk region, BTA reports.
Ukraine said small groups of Russian infantry had advanced about 10 km (6 miles) toward its main defense line, near the town of Dobropilya, raising fears of a larger breakthrough that would further endanger key cities.
The offensive, launched just days before US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska, appears to be aimed at pressuring Kiev to swap land in attempts to reach peace three and a half years after Russian invasion of its neighboring country.
"The situation in the Dobropilya sector has stabilized," wrote the regional governor of Donetsk Oblast, Vadim Filashkin, on the "Telegram" app. "Thanks to the heroic efforts of our defense forces, the front line is reliably held," he added.
The Kiev army, which has downplayed the scale of the Russian offensive, has sent additional forces to the area, including parts of the battle-hardened "Azov" corps.
General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovalev, in a comment to the Interfax news agency, echoed Filashkin's statement and said that the "Azov" forces inflicted heavy damage on the enemy.
The Russian offensive has also fueled criticism of Ukraine's high military command.
Military analyst Konrad Music wrote on the social network "Ex" that yesterday Russian forces had made "minimal gains" in territory, but had moved south towards the strategic city of Pokrovsk.