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Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyiv said its forces advanced 2km (1.2 miles) in a week. Russia said its troops had regrouped in one area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The claims signal a momentum shift in Bakhmut – but more widely, there is no clear evidence of an Ukrainian counter-offensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, two explosions were reported on Friday in Russian-occupied Luhansk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Images posted on social media, verified by the BBC, show a big plume of black smoke rising from the city, which lies about 90km (55.9 miles) behind the front line in eastern Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The blasts come a day after the UK said it had supplied Ukraine with long range Storm Shadow cruise missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kremlin-appointed officials said six children in Luhansk were injured in a missile attack alongside Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatsky. The authorities there have blamed the attack on Kyiv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luhansk is beyond the reach of the Himars rockets Ukraine has previously relied on for deep strikes against Russian targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Russian-appointed officials in the region said they thought Ukrainian-made missiles were responsible, hitting administrative buildings of two defunct enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier Russia’s defence ministry said Russian troops in one Bakhmut area had changed their position for strategic reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It said units of the southern group of Russian forces had taken up a better defensive position in the Maloilinivka area, something which took into consideration “the favourable conditions of the Berkhivka reservoir”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said what the Ministry of Defence was talking about “is unfortunately called ‘fleeing’ and not a ‘regrouping'”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the intense, bloody battle has worn on, Bakhmut has become symbolically important – though many experts question its tactical value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a post on Telegram, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar claimed Russia suffered significant troop losses as Ukraine gained 2km without losing any positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile Russian military bloggers reported Ukrainian advances or troop movements in several areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n