Ukraine has reportedly advanced almost two kilometres along the southern front over the past week as it pushes ahead to Melitopol.
Kyiv said its counteroffensive, which began last month, was making breakthroughs in the face of “dense” minefields and shelling.
Mykola Urshalovych, a representative of the National Guard, said the force’s 15th Karadag brigade and regular troops were moving towards the occupied southern city of Melitopol.
He added that soldiers, “supported by tanks, have advanced 1,700 metres [1.1 miles] to the south and southeast” in the last week.
Melitopol, which was occupied in the early stages of the war, is strategically important because commanders believe it could sever the land corridor between Russia and Crimea.