Ukrainian forces are continuing their offensive in the Melitopol and Berdyansk areas of the southern Zaporizhzhya region while recapturing some territory in the eastern region of Donetsk, the Ukrainian military said early on July 17.
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"Over the past week, as a result of offensive actions in total (east and south), almost 18 square kilometers were liberated," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram, adding that in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk Ukrainian forces managed to recapture some territory.
Malyar said that the total amount of territory recaptured by Ukrainian troops since the start of their counteroffensive totals more than 210 square kilometers.
Russian forces spearheaded by Wagner mercenaries took Bakhmut in May after months of heavy fighting, but Ukrainian troops have recently been making gains to the north and south of the devastated city.
Malyar said that, over the past week, some 7 square kilometers were liberated around Bakhmut, where a total of more than 30 square kilometers have been recaptured by Kyiv's forces.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily report early on July 17 that Russian troops are concentrating their main military operations in the Bakhmut, Avdiyvka, Kupyansk, and Maryinka directions in Donetsk.
It said that Ukrainian troops fended off Russian attempts at storming their positions in Donetsk and that 28 close-combat battles were fought there over the past 24 hours in the east.
The latest fighting came as Russian forces struck Ukraine's eastern region of Kharkiv three times on July 16.
Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, told people to stay inside as an air alert was sounded after dark.
Synehubov said earlier on Telegram that one civilian was killed in the second attack, which Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said took place around 7 p.m.
Synehubov said three men had been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds and that one person was treated at the scene.
According to Ukraine, the Russian military launched four S-300 missiles from the Belgorod region in Russia. Two of the missiles exploded in the air, while the other two struck -- one at a stadium and the other on a road in the city.