Ukraine Claims Recapture of Another Village Near Bakhmut

Facts

• Ukraine said it has recaptured the village of Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region, marking what appears to be its second significant advance in a number of days.¹
• This comes after Ukraine said it recaptured the neighboring village of Andriivka on Friday. Both villages lie roughly six miles (10 km) from the city of Bakhmut — captured by Russia in May after an eight-month battle that's considered to have been one of the most grueling of the war.²
• In his nightly address on Sunday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: 'Today I would like to particularly commend the soldiers who, step by step, are returning to Ukraine what belongs to it, namely in the area of Bakhmut.' Singling out the fighters in Klishchiivka for their efforts, Zelenskyy added, 'Well done!'³
• However, in the daily briefing from Russia's defense ministry on Saturday, it disputed Ukraine's account and said fighting was ongoing for control of Andriivka and Klishchiivka. It said that Ukrainian forces were 'unsuccessfully trying to oust Russian troops' from the villages.⁴
• Meanwhile, in a further statement on Monday — in which Bakhmut is referred to by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk — Russia's defense ministry said its forces disrupted Ukrainian attempts at breaking through in that direction, alleging that enemy troops were eliminated.⁵
• Neither Russia's nor Ukraine's battlefield reports could be independently confirmed.⁴

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Associated Press, ³Guardian, ⁴Reuters and ⁵Tass.

Narratives

• Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Ukrainska pravda. Ukraine has liberated the village of Klishchiivka — a significant development as its terrain will act as a springboard for further advances in the Donetsk direction. This allows Ukraine to recapture more of the territory illegally occupied by Russia.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. Russian forces continue to repel Ukrainian attacks in the direction of Bakhmut. Claims that Ukraine has recaptured the two villages are unsubstantiated as fighting is still ongoing there.

Predictions