 Ukrainian forces have advanced by about two kilometers around the eastern city of Bakhmut this week and have not given up any positions there in that time, Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Malier said on May 12. But she appeared to play down suggestions that Ukraine had already started a much-anticipated counteroffensive and urged Ukrainians to disregard what she described as Russian disinformation about the situation in and around Bakhmut. Some Russian military bloggers reported on Thursday that Ukrainian troops had broken through parts of the front line. Moscow denied the reports and said the situation was under control after 10 months of fierce fighting for Bakhmut.