Ukrainian troops have tried, for months, to beat back Russian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been the epicenter of the war. They have managed to halt the advance. Now, they have started to gain ground.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Friday that Ukrainian forces have not lost a single position in the city for an entire week. She added that troops have even managed to retake 2 kilometers of territory.

In Moscow, Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov admitted that the Ukrainians have launched 26 attacks with more than 1,000 troops. However, he downplayed the impact.

Konashenkov said, "All attacks by the Ukrainian units were repulsed. No break through the defense of Russian troops has been allowed."

Konashenkov added that his forces have pulled back from some areas to fortify their defenses.

However, the leader of the mercenaries fighting alongside Russian troops called that a "lie."

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, said, "The flanks are crumbling, the front is collapsing. And the attempts of the defense ministry to say things to make the situation look better are -- and will -- bring overall tragedy to Russia."

Ukrainian commanders have been expected to launch a large-scale counteroffensive. However, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington describe the recent attacks as "localized." And leaders in Kyiv say their troops need more time to prepare and that they are still waiting for delivery of promised military aid.