Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured three villages within the southeast from Russian management, marking the first liberated settlements since launching a counteroffensive. In an unverified video revealed by Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade, troopers raised the Ukrainian flag within the Donetsk region’s village of Blahodatne. Valeriy Shershen, spokesperson for Ukraine’s “Tavria” army sector, introduced the initial results of the counteroffensive actions on tv.
The village of Blahodatne is situated on the border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhia areas, just south of the Kyiv-controlled village of Velyka Novosilka. Myroslav Semeniuk, spokesman for the brigade, informed The Associated Press that an assault staff captured six Russian troops after getting into buildings where approximately 60 troopers have been hiding. The subsequent village focused for reclamation is Urozhayne, adopted by further advances southward.
In response, Russian military bloggers with close ties to the Kremlin claimed that Blahodatne was deserted due to fears of encirclement. Model regained management of Makarivka, the neighbouring village, and advanced between 300 and 1,500 metres along two instructions on the southern entrance, according to Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar. Additionally, a Ukrainian territorial defence unit shared unverified footage on Telegram of soldiers raising their flag in Neskuchne, the village closest to Ukrainian positions within the area.
Despite these stories, the Russian defence ministry maintained that it was repelling Ukrainian assaults in the area. It stated that Ukrainian offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhia front traces over the past 24 hours had been unsuccessful. However, with restricted info and minimal impartial reporting from the entrance lines, verifying the battlefield situation stays challenging.
The southeastern area, presently occupied by Russian forces, is considered a priority for Kyiv’s forces, who could goal to threaten Russia’s land bridge to the annexed Crimean Peninsula and divide Russian forces. In the meantime, Russia has constructed extensive fortifications throughout occupied territory in preparation for a potential Ukrainian counterattack using troops skilled and geared up by the West..