Maliar told about the insidious plan of the occupiers in the Bakhmut direction

Currently, there is a lull on the Bakhmut direction, but it will not last long. Meanwhile, the occupiers are trying to force the Ukrainian military to switch from offensive to defensive.

This was reported to Channel 24 by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Maliar.

"On the one hand, the intensity of the enemy's offensive actions has significantly decreased, and they are practically not conducting any offensive operations there. However, there has been an increase in the intensity of shelling, airstrikes, and artillery attacks. Currently, if we compare the numbers, the frequency of these shelling incidents is reaching the level that was observed during the most intense battles for Bakhmut," she reported.

According to her, now another phase of defense is taking place in this direction. There is a lull, but in her opinion, it will not last long. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing for reinforcement.

"The situation will change, the enemy is preparing to intensify combat operations, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are also carrying out a certain set of actions to strengthen their positions. That is why the advance on the flanks has not been carried out for several days," - the Deputy Minister of Defense concluded.

Read also:

• The strike by an Iranian drone on a high-rise building in Kyiv: the journalist showed what the building looks like

• Russian occupiers in Melitopol abducted Ukrainian journalist Irina Levchenko: what is known about it

• Zelenskyy told how many children in Ukraine died from the war - "Russia killed them"​​​​​​​

• Russia may be preparing a large-scale strike with missiles and drones: Operational Command "South" warned about the danger

• Danilov has reacted to Kadyrov's threats of 'revenge in the fullest sense of the word’