There are heavy casualties on both sides in the early stages of Ukraine’s counteroffensive against the Russians, British officials said on Monday.
British military officials described a regular assessment of the situation as showing Russian losses at their highest levels since the Battle of Bahmut in March.
British intelligence said the fierce fighting was centered in the southeastern region of Zaporizhia, near Bakhmut and west of the eastern region of Donetsk.
He also assessed that, although Ukrainian forces had advanced slightly through offensive operations in these areas, Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army said in a regular briefing on the morning of the 18th that in the last 24 hours, Russian forces had carried out 43 airstrikes, 4 missiles and 51 multiple rocket attacks.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said 26 battles had been fought as Russian forces continued to intensively attack industrial areas in the eastern Donetsk region, including Bakhmut, Audiuca, Marinka and Liman.
Donetsk Governor Paulo Kirilenko said on the 17th that two civilians had been killed and three wounded.
Ukrainian officials also said that Russia also hit other areas in the east and south.
Odessa regional government spokesman Serhiy Brachuk said Ukrainian forces destroyed an important Russian military ammunition depot in the port city of Henichesk, near Kherson Oblast.
VOA News
