Illustrative Image
Heavy battles are ongoing near the city of Artemosk (former Bakhmut). Ukrainian forces continue bloody attempts to break through Russian defence both on the western and and southern flanks. In their turn, Russian servicemen are fiercely resisting, holding their positions, and counterattack inflicting more damage to the Ukrainian units.
Fierce fighting is ongoing west of Klescheevka, where Ukrainian forces continue attempts to take control of an important stronghold on a hill near the village. The strategically important military positions, which pave the way to establish fire control of the village, were captured by both of the warring sides several times. By the evening of July 19, reports from the front claimed that the AFU were again repelled from the area and Russian forces took back control of the stronghold.
The both sides are suffering heavy losses, but Ukrainian casualties are much higher:
Footage shared by Chechen fighters deployed near Klescheevka:
At the same time, the situation remains tense on the western flank of the Russian grouping in Artyomovsk. The AFU continue attacks in different directions, including near the village of Dubovo-Vasilyevka.
A video from the area showed another Ukrainian attempt to destroy Russian military position. A column of Ukrainian armored vehicles, which included two tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles, was filmed approaching Russian trenches and shooting it with guns at close distance.
Russian anti-tank forces opened response fire and first hit the T-64BV tank with the ATGM. The BMP-2 was also hit by a missile. The BMP-1 was destroyed and only one member of its crew survives the strike but he was heavily wounded. His comrads escaped and left him dying on the battlefield.
Some Ukrainian servicemen, who survived the attack on the BMP-2, attempted to storm the trenches which were defended by ONE Russian servicemen before the reinforcements arrived. As a result, Ukrainian operation failed and the Russian military secured the control of the positions.
