Defense Ministry: Ukraine liberates 37.4 square kilometers over past week.

Ukraine has liberated 28.4 square kilometers in the south and 9 square kilometers in the east over the past week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said[1] on July 3. In the south, the military is continuing successful offensive operations toward Melitopol and Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, specifically in the directions of Novodarivka-Pryiutne, Novodanylivka-Robotyne, and Novosilka-Staromaiorske, Maliar wrote on Telegram. The area liberated in Ukraine's south now amounts to 158.4 kilometers square total, the deputy minister reported.

Both offensive and defensive operations were reported on the eastern front line. Russian forces continue their advance toward Lyman, Avdiivka, and Mariinka, but the Ukrainian defense in these areas is putting up strong resistance, Maliar said. Ukrainian troops are pushing forward in the Bakhmut direction, she added.

"Over the past week, as a result of improving the operational (tactical) position and aligning the front line, the liberated area was increased by 9 kilometers square," Maliar commented on the situation on the eastern part of the front. The deputy minister also reported that the number of Russian strikes in the sector has increased twofold, counting 11,753 this week compared to 6,457 a week ago. Maliar reported[2] on Russian advances in the east on July 2, commenting that the situation there "is quite difficult," while simultaneously confirming Ukrainian advances in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches small-scale offensives in attempt to regain control

Key developments on July 2: * Maliar: Ukraine 'creating conditions for a speedy advance' in Berdiansk, Melitopol directions * Ukraine advances on southern flank of Bakhmut; Russia deployed two air force regiments on the northern flank * Russia launches offensive near Avdiivka, Marinka, Lyman *...

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukra?ner.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

References

1. ^ said (t.me)
2. ^ reported (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ Ukraine war latest: Russia launches small-scale offensives in attempt to regain controlKey developments on July 2: * Maliar: Ukraine 'creating conditions for a speedy advance' in Berdiansk, Melitopol directions * Ukraine advances on southern flank of Bakhmut; Russia deployed two air force regiments on the northern flank * Russia launches offensive near Avdiivka, Marinka, Lyman *... (kyivindependent.com)