"As a result of active actions, in the Donetsk direction, assault detachments captured three neighborhoods in the northern, central and southern parts of the city of Artemovsk [Bakhmut]," the ministry said in a statement.
It also noted that the Russian aviation carried out six flights, and the country's artillerymen completed 63 fire missions over the past day to support assault detachments in Artemovsk.
In addition, Russian forces have hit two units of Ukrainian military in Chasov Yar and Kostyantynivka which were advancing for a counteroffensive, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, Ukraine lost over 290 military and mercenaries in Donetsk direction in the past day.
Earlier, Mark Sleboda, an international relations and security analyst told Sputnik that with Russian forces controlling most of Artemovsk, it is detrimental to Ukrainian military to hold the city.