Russia Claims "Ukraine's Offensive on Southern Donetsk Front"
Russian Mercenary Wagner Group "Lost Part of Bakhmut"
Ukraine's military authorities have denied Russia's Ministry of Defense's claim that Ukraine launched a large-scale offensive, calling it "fake news."
According to major foreign media, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military said on the 5th (local time) in response to questions about the Russian Ministry of Defense's statement, "We have no such information and do not comment on any kind of fake news."
The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement that day announcing, "The Ukrainian military launched a large-scale offensive on five sectors of the southern Donetsk front on the 4th."
The Ministry added, "The enemy's objective was to break through our defensive line at the most vulnerable front, but the enemy failed to accomplish such a mission and did not achieve success."
It also claimed that Russian forces killed about 300 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed 16 tanks, 26 armored vehicles, and 14 other vehicles.
For now, the Ukrainian military authorities have issued their first official response, saying they do not know about the counteroffensive and calling it fake news.
Military vehicles are destroyed and smoke is rising near the front line in Klishivka, Donetsk Province, Ukraine. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group, announced that Ukraine had recaptured some areas of Bakhmut, a key battleground, on the same day.
In response, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, also stated on Telegram that they succeeded in destroying a Russian position near Bakhmut and are continuing to advance near Bakhmut.
Russian state-run Sputnik, citing Russian military sources, claimed that forced evacuations are underway in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, cities adjacent to Bakhmut.
Earlier, major foreign media reported that Ukrainian military authorities urged their citizens to maintain silence regarding operational information to succeed in the counterattack on the 4th.
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