AFU Closing 'Mousetrap' Near Bakhmut

Ukrainian defenders are almost in Berkhivka and on the outskirts of Kleshcheyivka.

The day before, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, spoke about the AFU's successes at the Bakhmut section of the front. Russian war correspondents say that the Ukrainian defenders are west of Andriivka, but have not yet taken control of the dominant height, Dialog writes.

Today, on 10 July, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War and "Bakhmut Demon" reported on the progress of fighting in the Bakhmut direction. "Bakhmut Demon" claims that during yesterday's fighting the Ukrainian defenders were practically in Berkhivka, as well as were fighting on the outskirts of Kleshcheyivka. A number of Russian military bloggers assure that the situation in Kleshcheyivka is under full control of the Russian Armed Forces.

Others are not so rosy in their statements. Moreover, all of them agree that this locality is vital for Putin's army to hold Bakhmut. Some Russian media claim that the 72nd brigade of the Russian Armed Forces is "inadequately" defending near Kleshcheyivka. That is why the units of the 106th Airborne Division were thrown to help them. Back in May, the occupants from the 72nd Motorised Rifle Brigade fled the battlefield near Bakhmut, abandoning their positions. The AFU is confronted by the forces of the 98th Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces near Berkhivka. Russian war correspondents say that on July 9, Putin's army conducted an unsuccessful ground attack in an attempt to push the AFU away from Berkhivka. There is also fighting on the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.

Yesterday, the geolocation footage showed a slight advance of Putin's army south-west of Vesele. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the Russian army had managed to suppress the AFU attacks near Opytne, Severne and Pervomayske.

Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Russians were actually trapped in Bakhmut.