Ukraine launches a strong offensive in the south of the country and claims to be suffering fewer casualties than Russia

2023-06-17 13:23:45

The fiercest of the fighting in Ukraine is now focused on the road to Mariupolwhere the Ukrainian offensive is slowly pushing back Russian forces, and British Challenger tanks are ready to join the battle, the Kiev government has revealed.

Hanna Maliar, deputy defense minister, said the most active fighting was no longer around Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk regionbut in the south, and specifically in the direction of the two coastal cities of Berdyansk and Mariupol.

“In the east, the enemy has turned against all forces to stop our offensive. And they are gathering forces there to stop us. In the south they are not very successfulMaliar said.

“There are advances in all directions in the south, and there are several,” added the minister. “If we talk about losses, in the Bakhmut sector, nine times as many Russians as Ukrainians have died. And in a southerly direction, the Russians have died 5.3 times more than the Ukrainians,” he said.