(Reuters) – Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Monday its forces had repelled numerous Ukrainian assaults as Kyiv pursues a counteroffensive to try to recapture the swathes of its territory that Moscow has seized.
But its statement did not mention the settlement of Piatykhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region, on the southern front of the counteroffensive, which a Russian-installed official said earlier had been taken by Ukraine.
Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports. Kyiv has cited the need for secrecy in declining to comment on details of the counteroffensive.
The ministry said four attacks had been repelled west of the Russian-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, in areas around Pervomaiske, Stepove and Staromykhailivka.
It said Russian forces had also repelled two attacks farther west, in Zaporizhzhia province, near Mala Tokmachka, as well as three in the south of Donetsk province, south of Velyka Novosilka.
Earlier, the ministry said it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to take the settlement of Novodonetske, about 12 km (7 miles farther east again.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Kevin Liffey and Angus MacSwan)
