Hard Fight near a settlement Ukraine says it has freed

Heavy fighting between Ukrainian soldiers and Russian invading forces has been reported around Klicchijevka, a key village in the Donjeck region east of Ukraine, Ukrainian military reported.

The morning wars on September 18th come a day after Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces had freed Klichivka, a village located on the southern side of Bahmut.

The southwest area of Bahmut has been the focus of counteroffensiva, which Ukraine has developed to the east during the summer. Zelensky's announcement came two days after Ukraine's army said it had taken over a small village near Andrijivka, located about 10km southwest of Bahmut.

If the two villages recovered it could allow Ukraine's troops to attack Bahmut from the north and west, enabling them to release this destroyed city that came under Russian control after a bloody month-long battle. Taking Bahmut to that world marked a great victory for the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian Army said on September 18th that its forces “are continuing offensive operations” in the Klicijivka region, “causing the enemy considerable loss”.

The previous day, Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces have continued their attacks near Klicchijivka, which before the war had a population of about 40.

Ukrainian presidency chief Andriy Yermak on September 17th published a photograph featuring Ukrainian soldiers carrying their state flag in this village on Telegram.

“Ukrainian always retakes what belongs to”, he wrote.

Illia Yevlas, spokesman for the Ukrainian Army, said that during the fighting in this village, Russian units have been caused <x0 perversible”, including the Chichmat battalion of Chechen leader Ramzan Cadyrov.

Ukraine has been facing its unprotested Russian invasion since late February last year since June is conducting a counterensive in the east and south. However, the counterattack is estimated to be slower than expected. /rel