War in Ukraine sharp increase in intensity of fighting in

War in Ukraine: “sharp increase in intensity” of fighting in the south of the country

The line of contact between the Ukrainian and Russian armies in the Zaporijia region has been stabilized for several months and, unlike the Donetsk (east) and Kherson (south) regions, no major fighting took place there.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian army claimed to have captured the small village of Lobkové, more than 60 kilometers southeast of Zaporizhia, the capital of the region of the same name. For his part, Vladimir Rogov stated that “there is no attack on Orikhiv (the nearby capital, ed.) but active fighting is underway in its nearby suburbs”. According to a morning bulletin of the Ukrainian army, “more than 20 towns were hit by Russian tank, mortar and artillery fire” in the Zaporizhia region on Thursday.

surround Bakhmout

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the Russian army announced on Friday that it had taken control of Klichchiivka, a small town south of Bakhmout (east), a town that has become the epicenter of fighting. Klichchiivka, which had a population of about 500 before the war, is less than 10 kilometers southwest of Bakhmout, which for several months was the target of the Russian offensive in the region.