Ukraine says Russian troops focusing on Bakhmut in the east

Ukrainian troops were busy Monday reining in a growing Russian offensive around the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, military officials said. Officials said Ukrainian forces also had some success after crossing the east bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region. Russia is focusing on Ukraine's eastern regions after failing to take action against Kiev in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. Her progress was slow. The Ukrainian military has also made some progress in a five-month offensive in the east and south. Moscow forces captured Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk region in May after months of heavy fighting left the city in ruins. Volodymyr Ficho, a spokesman for Ukraine's ground forces, said Russian forces focused their attacks on the nearby hilltop village of Kryshtiivka, which was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in September. "Russian occupation forces brought in the necessary reserves and launched an attack," Ficho told state television. "In the last 24 hours he has repulsed 11 attacks. The enemy is trying to drive our soldiers out of their defensive positions around Kryschyvka." According to Russian intelligence, Moscow's forces repelled more than 30 Ukrainian military attacks in and around Bakhmut last week. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported more than 20 attacks in the past week near Kupyansk in northeastern Ukraine.