According to pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian war bloggers, Ukrainian troops have broken through Russian defensive lines in Andriivka, Donetsk Oblast and Klishchiivka. The battle for both of these settlements has been raging for the past ten days since the Ukrainian counter offensive began in earnest the first week of July 2023.
On July 18th, 2023 Ukrainian forces had seized an elevated position in Klishchiivka and had been mounting enormous pressure on the Chechen Akhmat Battlaion forces holding that settlement. On July 21st, 2023, Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had attempted a counter-attack on Ukrainian gains South of Bakhmut. However, yesterday, those same bloggers reported the Ukrainians had repelled those assaults and seized adjacent heights outside of Klishchiivka, solidifying their hold.
This morning, both sides reported at least two Russian BTGs and an unconfirmed number of Chechen troops fleeing both settlements. Ukrainian troops have entered the heavily mined Andriivka and are still advancing in their attempts to surround Bakhmut. Ukrainian Armed Forces Spokesperson Cherevatyi credited the use of U.S. supplied cluster munitions for the successful breakthrough.
