 Ukrainian forces control southwest of Bakhmut and make gains in areas around the city. Ukrainian forces control the southwest of Bakhmut and are making gains in some areas around the city. Hannah Malia, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, wrote it on Telegram. Malia said that Russia has deployed most of its reserve forces to Bakhmut, significantly reinforcing its troops in the city. Russian forces conducted numerous assaults on May the 18th to the 19th, but the Ukrainian armed forces successfully repelled all Russian assaults. Russian troops attacked the Ukrainian forces on the northern outskirts of Bakhmut. Those attacks were equally unsuccessful. Ukrainian forces advanced by up to 500 meters in parts of the Bakhmut front. Malia said that fierce fighting also took place on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut. Russian forces went on the offensive in an attempt to regain the territories they had lost, but sustained losses and were not able to accomplish their goals. Ukrainian forces advanced by up to one kilometer in this area. She has stressed that the defense of Bakhmut and its outskirts is fulfilling its military tasks. Ukraine is now gaining time for certain planned actions. The Deputy Defense Minister stressed that the commanders of the Kortitsiya Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, the group responsible for the Bakhmut front, maintain control over the situation in and around Bakhmut.