The Ukrainian Army has said that it was continuing its counteroffensive around Klishchiivka in eastern Ukraine, after announcing last night its forces had recaptured the key village.

”The key village is near the Russian-controlled city of Bakhmut.

“Defence Forces continue assault operations in the vicinity of Klishchiyivka, inflict significant losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy, and consolidated their new positions, the Ukrainian General Staff wrote on its Facebook on Monday morning.

Meanwhile Russian forces were trying in vain to break through the Ukrainian defence line near the neighbouring village of Andriivka.

This is according to the statement published in English.

Recent weeks had seen heavy fighting around Klishchiivka, a village long held by Russian forces.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the recapture of the village in the Donetsk region, which they said, came after the retaking of nearby Andriivka.

The both villages are located several kilometres south of the city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces only managed to occupy following months of fierce fighting.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive, which has also focused on southern Ukraine, has retaken only a small amount of the territory occupied by Russian forces since they invaded Ukraine in February last year.