The fiercest fighting is taking place in the Kurakhiv, Bakhmut and Sievierodonetsk areas.

Oleksandr Motuzianyk, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said this at a daily briefing.

Russian invasion forces do not stop conducting offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone. Their main aim is to establish full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

“The fighting has reached its maximum intensity, with Russian troops firing along the entire line of contact and trying to fire with artillery deep into our defenses. At the same time, the assault is being carried out in several directions. The fiercest fighting is taking place on the Sievierodonetsk, Bakhmut and Kurakhiv fronts,” Motuzianyk said.

He clarified that in the Sievierodonetsk direction, with the support of artillery, the enemy is conducting assault operations toward Toshkivka and Ustynivka.

“As for Sievierodonetsk, the situation is difficult, street fights are already underway on the outskirts, and Ukrainian servicemen are restraining the enemy’s assault. The task of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to prevent not only an encirclement but also any success of the Russian invaders in all directions. We have optimistic views on this situation, but the situation remains difficult,” Moruzianyk said.

Oleksandr Motuzyanyk noted that the Defense Forces of Ukraine are taking all comprehensive measures to prevent the enemy from succeeding with his intentions to encircle the group near Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

And in the Bakhmut direction, the invaders are regrouping for a further offensive on Komyshuvakha, inukcreasing air defense systems.

As previously reported, the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Sievierodonetsk have neutralized the assault group of the Russian invasion forces.