The fact the Russian ministry felt obliged to release the statement reflects what Moscow acknowledges is a 'very difficult' military operation. 'The overall situation in the area of the special military operation is under control,' it said in a statement, using the Kremlin's description of the war in Ukraine.

'Statements circulated by individual Telegram channels about 'defence breakthroughs' that took place in different areas along the line of military contact do not correspond to reality,' the Russian defence ministry said in a Telegram post.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had earlier said the offensive had yet to start. Moscow reacted after Russian military bloggers, writing on the Telegram messaging app, reported what they said were Ukrainian advances north and south of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, with some suggesting a long-awaited counteroffensive by pro-Kyiv forces had started. May 11 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry on Thursday denied reports that Ukrainian forces had broken through in various places along the front lines and said the military situation was under control.

Kaspersky kremlin