Russia faces great resistance for every “meter it occupies in Ukraine”

Russia is making gains in Ukraine's Donetsk but is facing fierce resistance "literally for every meter," according to a Moscow-backed local official.

Russia is making gains

Official Denis Pushlin said Russian forces are making progress in Bakhmut, Marinka and Vohlidar in eastern Ukraine, stretching from north to south to the west of Donetsk city.

The Russian news agency "TASS" quoted him as saying that Moscow's gains "were not clear, that is, there is a battle for literally every meter."

France sends planes to Ukraine

Military analysts said Ukraine still controlled Marinka and Volidar - now on Russia's radar after capturing the small mining town of Solidar - and that these areas were seeing less intense Russian attacks on Monday.

This comes at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron said that he did not rule out sending fighter jets to Ukraine, in a positive sign for Kiev, which is seeking first-class military aid from allies.

Macron said Ukraine must meet certain conditions before France could send its planes.

Use counter mines

Ukraine has been urged to investigate allegations that its military used thousands of rocket-launched anti-personnel landmines in and around the eastern city of Izyum when Russian forces occupied the area.

“It appears that Ukrainian forces have widely dispersed landmines around the Izyum region, causing civilian casualties and posing a continuing danger,” said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch.

"Russian forces have repeatedly used antipersonnel mines and committed atrocities across the country, but this does not justify Ukraine's use of these banned weapons," said Steve Go.

butterfly mine

"Human Rights Watch documented the use of PFM mines in nine different areas in and around the city of Izium, and verified 11 civilian casualties from these mines," the organization said.

All nine districts were close to where the Russian military forces were stationed at the time, indicating that they were the target.

A “PFM” is a dispersible anti-personnel mine, commonly called a “butterfly mine”.