Russian forces continue to exert pressure in the region Bahamut as Ukrainian forces try to repel ongoing attacks near the central eastern city and nearby areas in the Donetsk region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army in an evening update today, Thursday.

“They attack the city of Bahamut,” the General Staff reports, repeating an earlier briefing indicating a Russian presence inside the city and not just on the outskirts. CNN reported earlier today that an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also states that the Russian forces “advanced into Bahamut and continued land attacks around the city”.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces have launched rocket attacks in the Donetsk region, located just five kilometers west of Bahamut, and in Zaporizhia, said the General Staff.

“The threat of further missile strikes remains high across Ukraine,” the Ukrainian military said.

At the same time, it says that in Zaporizhia and Kherson, Russian forces continue to “try to create conditions for an attack” and have fired artillery at more than 40 residential areas. Ukraine responded in turn with 13 strikes yesterday in areas where Russia has personnel and military equipment, the General Staff said, adding that missile and artillery units hit a Russian ammunition depot.