Ukraine’s military as well as Russia’s private army, the Wagner Group, both report more retreats by Russian forces on the outskirts of the city of Bakhmut.

As Kyiv continues its biggest advance in six-months ahead of a planned counter-offensive, Ukrainian troops say the Russians were bombarding access roads to slow them down.

Ukraine’s military, which has not said much publicly about gains in the southeastern part of the country, says troops had advanced by more than a kilometre in places.

The gains come amid a deepening split within Russian forces between Wagner, that’s led the Bakhmut campaign, and the regular Russian army.

Kyiv adds it’s launched local advances around Bakhmut in advance of an upcoming big counter-offensive that it hopes will turn things around in the 15-month war.