 Russia's Defense Ministry said on April 20 it had hit what it referred to as the Bakhmat Central Command Unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. No details of the operation were provided, which Ministry spokesperson Igor Konoshenkov said had taken place near the settlement of Konstantin Ivka located about 20 km southwest of Bakhmat in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine has not commented on the reports. Russian forces have stepped up heavy artillery bombardments and airstrikes on the devastated Ukrainian city in recent days. Fighting has raged in and around Bakhmat in Donetsk region for months, with Ukrainian forces holding out despite regular claims by Russia to have taken the majority of the city.