RIGHT SPEAK: UKRaine's Army Liberates Almost as Much Territory in 5 Weeks as RUssians Captured in 6 Months; UKR Reports Some 'success' in Fighting Near Bakhmut, Frontline Videos Offer Grim, Close-Up View of Kyiv's Counteroffensive; France to Become 2nd Nation to Send Ukraine Cruise Missiles, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

PHOTO: GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES

Ukraine's army liberates almost as much territory in 5 weeks as Russians captured in 6 months – ISW:

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated that the Ukraine’s Armed Forces liberated as much territory in five weeks of counteroffensive as the Russians captured in half a year.

Source: Institute for the Study of War

Details: According to the report, on 10 July, Russian ground communication lines and Bakhmut are under the fire control of the Ukrainian forces.

Sources from both Ukraine and Russia have recently claimed that Ukraine is advancing on the Bakhmut front and on its southwestern flanks, citing certain geographical factors that could provide Ukrainian soldiers with a firepower advantage.

In addition, analysts report that Ukrainian soldiers engaged in counteroffensive actions on 10 July in at least three different areas of the frontline.

Based on its own array of geographical data, ISW has determined that since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive on 4 June, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed about 253 square kilometres of land. The review clarifies that Ukrainian data differ from ISW data due to different approaches to calculations.

In comparison, since 1 January, Russian troops have captured a total of 282 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory.

In five weeks, Ukrainian forces liberated almost as much territory as Russian troops captured in six months. --->READ MORE HERE

REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

Ukraine reports some 'success' in fighting near Bakhmut:

KYIV, July 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine on Wednesday reported some success in fighting near the Russian-occupied eastern city of Bakhmut as its troops press on with a counteroffensive against Moscow's forces.

Heavy fighting and Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian cities have continued while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in Vilnius for meetings with NATO leaders who are holding a summit in the Lithuanian capital.

"The (Ukrainian) Defense Forces continue to conduct offensive operations north and south of the city of Bakhmut," Andriy Kovaliov, a spokesperson for the armed forces general staff, said.

"In the directions of Bila Hora-Andriivka and Bila Hora-Kurdyumivka, they have had success in some places," he said, referring to sectors of the frontline south of Bakhmut.

He said Russian forces were putting up strong resistance, moving units and troops, and deploying reserves as Ukraine presses on with the counteroffensive launched in May. He did not say how much ground Ukraine had gained in the latest combat.

Russia captured Bakhmut in May after months of intense fighting that devastated the city, seen by Moscow as a stepping stone to further advances following its full-scale invasion in February 2022. --->READ MORE HERE