Ukraine claims limited gains, weeks into counteroffensiveRussian forces are on the offensive near eastern AvdiivkaKYIV (UKRAINE) - Ukraine on Monday said its forces clawed back clutches of territory from Russia last week as part of its counteroffensive, as Russia's security service said it foiled an assassination attempt on the head of Moscow-annexed Crimea. Ukraine's forces have gained over 158 square kilometres in the south since the start of the counteroffensive, Malyar said. Russian forces are also on the offensive, and in recent days launched new assaults towards Svatove, in the eastern Lugansk region. Bakhmut was seized by Russian forces spearheaded by the Wagner mercenary group. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine after a referendum widely regarded as a sham by Kyiv and Western countries.
