Ukraine’s military said today it had seized new territory amid fierce fighting around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, despite being outnumbered and outgunned by Russian forces.

Last week, Kiev said it had increased pressure on Moscow’s troops north and south of Bakhmut. Russian mercenary forces claim to have advanced into the city, while Kiev has admitted they have had some minor successes.

“Despite the fact that our units do not have an advantage in terms of equipment … and personnel, they continue to advance on the (Russian) flanks and have covered a distance of 150 to 1,700 meters,” army spokesman Serhii Tserevati said in comments which were broadcast on television. He did not specify in what period of time these lands were won. Reuters was unable to independently ascertain the situation on the battlefield.

Moscow sees Bakhmut, a town of about 70,000 before Russia’s invasion last year, as a springboard for seizing the rest of the Donbas region. Ukrainian officials have hinted that their advance around Bakhmut is not part of a wider counteroffensive planned by Kiev to drive out Russian forces.