The freshest reports suggest that Ukrainians increased the number of assaults here even more. Recent footage reveals how Ukrainians are conducting artillery preparation of multiple Russian positions in the tree lines across the fields simultaneously. Russian forces are trying to retaliate and even launch assaults on Ukrainian positions, however, when it comes to Bakhmut’s flanks, here Ukrainians are using fresh troops that are constantly being rotated in Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian 54th Mechanized Brigade showed how they repelled one of such Russian assaults. Judging by the footage, it looks like they were spotted earlier than they expected, faced overwhelming fire, and tried to hide behind a big tree, but eventually, the whole squad was killed.Ukrainians have also conducted a successful counterattack on the Sloviansk highway near Zaliznianske. As you might have noticed, since Russians switched their focus to the city, the activity in this region has noticeably decreased. Ukrainians noticed that Wagners also reduced support for this group and conducted a mechanized counterattack. Ukrainian 30th Mechanized Brigade showed how they completely annihilated the Russian strong point with tank fire and recaptured this section of the highway. And this a very important development, because if we look at the topographic map, we can see that this is one of the highest points in the region.While Ukrainians have been actively reducing the area under Russian control in the northern part of the region, Wagner forces tried to recapture what they lost in the south and conducted a counterattack. Geolocated footage reveals that the Wagner assault unit tried to cross this narrow section of the forest to assault Ivansivske, but as it turned out, such a narrow space was perfect for establishing fire control, so they stepped right in the artillery kill zone and were quickly destroyed.Russians made one more assault in the direction of Ivaniske road, although this time, it was on the outskirts of Bakhmut. Here, Russian forces assumed positions in one of the few high-rise buildings south of the road to provide cover and allow the assault unit to penetrate Ukrainian defenses. Geolocated video shows that Ukrainians successfully targeted this firing point and suppressed Russian fire, which resulted in rapid exposure of the assault unit. Judging by the available materials, Ukrainians killed at least 22 Wagners, and the rest ran away, abandoning their armored vehicle. Despite the ongoing clashes, Ukrainians are still using the Ivanivske highway to deliver small batches of ammunition, although, as seen from the video, in order to drive through the region faster than Russian artillery can respond, they are driving at around 140 km/h on the road with many obstacles.In the southern part of the city, the Ukrainian 1st Border Detachment continues to hold this small salient. As mentioned previously, Wagner forces are desperately trying to encircle this group of forces and deploying disproportionately many assault units to carry out this mission. Ukrainians are using this opportunity to track and inflict losses on the second line. The footage shows how a Ukrainian drone operator works in coordination with an artillery crew, and as a result, they detected and destroyed one house with at least a dozen Russians near the lake, another house with Russians near the graveyard, and one more house where they delivered ammunition.When it comes to the eastern part of the city, Russian forces managed to advance along the whole line of contact. Geolocated combat footage revealed how Russians are shelling with artillery a high-rise building with Ukrainians in the central part of the city. This suggests that Russians fully captured the school and started moving further.A bit to the north, after several weeks of very costly attempts to ford the river and gain a foothold near garages, Russian forces finally managed to do it. Geolocated footage shows heavy fights in this area, and many sources say that, for now, the area remains contested.Russian forces also made advances on the territory of the AZOM industrial complex. Here, Wagner forces confirmed that they established control over two more sections of the complex. Russian news released a report showing the factory shops and previous Ukrainian positions.