DONETSK, November 9. /TASS/. Ukrainian troops have abandoned several strongholds near Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut by Ukraine) after suffering heavy casualties, Yan Gagin, adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), told TASS on Thursday.

"Our units have been able drive the enemy out from several strongholds in the area of Kleshcheyevka. The Ukrainian military has retreated with quite heavy casualties," he said.

Russian forces are also thwarting the Ukrainian army’s attempts to regain lost positions, Gagin added.

The Ukrainian military has been making unsuccessful attempts to advance since June 4. As Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on October 30, the Kiev regime has lost more than 90,000 troops killed and wounded, about 600 tanks and 1,900 armored vehicles over this period. The Russian defense chief stressed that the Ukrainian military had failed to achieve any significant tactical successes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 15 that the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive had completely failed, although Kiev was preparing new offensive operations in some frontline areas.