Russian reports that Ukraine has begun a counteroffensive are meant to distract attention from losses Russian forces are taking around the eastern city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said on Monday.
Moscow said it had thwarted a major Ukrainian assault involving six mechanised and two tank battalions in the south of Ukraine's Donetsk region.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian forces were "shifting to offensive actions" in some areas along the front line but dismissed suggestions that this was part of a major operation.
