"The enemy has been actively advancing since the end of last week in the Kupyansk direction in the Kharkov region. Now the enemy is searching for weaknesses in our defense, actively conducting assault operations… The situation is complicated. Fierce fighting is now raging," Maliar wrote on her Telegram channel.
This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin positively assessed the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, noting that the Russian military was thwarting all enemy attempts to break through the Russia's defenses.
Ukraine launched its long-touted counteroffensive in early June after multiple delays. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops continue to try but are failing to advance along three directions: South Donetsk, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) and Zaporozhye, the latter being their primary focus.