Ukraine has since last week retaken several areas southwest and northwest of the disputed city of Bachmut, according to the ISW think tank.

"I believe that this started because the Russians withdrew. Then Ukraine took advantage of the situation and took the initiative, says Jonas von Matern, who has daily contact with combat units at the city.

Von Matern has made 23 trips to Ukraine, where he supplies Ukrainian front-line units with vehicles and other materiel. As recently as Tuesday last week – a day after the counterattacks began – he was in the village of Tjasiv Yar, about a mile from Bachmut.

Cutting off Russian forces

The goal of the counterattacks could be to cut off Russian forces north of the city and at the same time take control of an upland area south of the city, von Matern said.

"But there is still some way to go before they have surrounded Bachmut, as many are hoping for.

When SVT reaches von Matern, he has recently talked to a Ukrainian drone pilot who participates in the counterattack southwest of the city. According to the source, Ukrainian troops are currently pushing forward, aiming for the village of Klishchiivka and its heights, from which there is a view of the southern parts of Bachmut.

"The Russians are fleeing"

All that remains between the Ukrainian positions and the village is a grove of trees – where the Russians are currently – and open fields.

"Right now, the Russians are abandoning the grove, running. Within a few days, Ukraine will probably arrive at Klishchiivka, he says.

However, von Matern emphasizes the importance of not taking out the victory in advance.

"If you go two kilometres ahead, it's not much, when you see how much terrain remains to be taken back from the Russians.

SVT has not verified the information on its own.

Former Lieutenant Colonel Jörgen Elfving has previously told SVT that he believes the goal of the counterattacks is to secure Ukrainian supply lines in and out of the city. See more in the video below.

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Here, Russian soldiers flee east from the front line at Bachmut.