Ukrainian officials also said the Russians had suffered major losses around Vuhladar, a town about 150 km southwest of Bakhmut, including tanks and armored vehicles as well as personnel.
Reuters was not able to independently verify reports from the battlefield.
As Ukraine desperate for more arms, the defense ministers of several NATO allies will meet at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss more military aid.
On the eve of the meeting, Ukraine’s top general and the most senior US military commander in Europe discussed military aid and training in a telephone conversation. Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles.
Stoltenberg said he hoped the issue of the aircraft would be discussed but that Ukraine now needed support on the ground.
A NATO source said it would increase ammunition stockpiles because Ukraine was burning through shells much faster than Western countries.
The Ukrainian military is training on the Leopard 2 and other modern battle tanks in several European countries including Poland, Britain and Germany to boost their defence.
