Ukraine says its troops are regaining more ground on eastern and southern front lines. But Kyiv's counteroffensive has met strong resistance from Russian forces, with Moscow saying its forces are continuing to repel Ukrainian attacks.

Ukraine is using the Hyacinth 152 mm cannon and Grad multi-rocket launcher, both Soviet-made, in its attacks on Russian positions 10 kilometers away.

The Grad launcher can fire 40 rockets in 20 seconds – but with conservation of weaponry, key troops are firing many times less than that.

Ukraine's president Volodomyr Zelenskyy and military chiefs are openly calling for more fighter jets and artillery from NATO. 

Roman, a 59th Brigade Commander in the Donetsk region, agrees that this is essential. He told CGTN on the battlefield: "There's a lack of ammunition. For now most of the ammunition goes to the advancing brigades – more in the Zaporizhzhia direction. We are holding the line here."

Ukraine's commanders say Russia's use of superior weapons like the 120km-range, 300mm Smerch is giving Russia's army an advantage.

Nonetheless, Russia is reportedly targeting the 155mm Howitzer because, according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, it is absolutely lethal.

The combination of flat terrain, ammunition shortages and maintaining static positions render artillery units defending this territory vulnerable but not incapable.

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Despite their difficulties, Ukrainian officials insist that fruitful gains have been made by its army over the past week and that its number one objectives are being realized, namely destroying Russian weapons, fuel depots and command posts. 

Amid fierce fighting around the eastern area of Bachmut, Ukrainian government officials say the country's army has retaken a few dozen square kilometers of territory from Russia. 

However, few of Ukraine's claims have been independently verified amid the fog of war. 

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