Ukrainian troops liberate strategic southeastern settlement, Kyiv says – National | 24CA News
Ukraine mentioned on Monday its troops had liberated the southeastern settlement of Robotyne and have been making an attempt to push additional south of their counteroffensive in opposition to Russian forces.
The Ukrainian army mentioned final week that its forces had raised the nationwide flag within the strategic settlement, however have been nonetheless finishing up mopping-up operations.
Ukrainian forces consider they’ve damaged by way of essentially the most tough line of Russian defenses within the south and that they’ll now begin advancing extra shortly, a commander who led troops into Robotyne advised Reuters final week.
“Robotyne has been liberated,” Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar was quoted as saying by the army.
The settlement is 10 km (six miles) south of the frontline city of Orikhiv within the Zaporizhzhia area on an necessary highway in the direction of Tokmak, a Russian-occupied highway and rail hub.
Tokmak’s seize can be a milestone as Ukrainian troops press southwards in the direction of the Sea of Azov in a army drive that’s meant to separate Russian forces following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Maliar advised Ukrainian tv that Kyiv’s troops, who started their counteroffensive in early June, have been now transferring southeast of Robotyne and south of close by Mala Tokmachka.
Ukraine’s success in retaking Robotyne, which Russia has not confirmed, follows media stories of a gathering this month of senior NATO army chiefs and Ukraine’s high basic on resetting Ukraine’s army technique.
‘VERY HOT’ ON EASTERN FRONT
Ukrainian forces are additionally combating Russian troops in japanese Ukraine, and progress has been slower than had been broadly anticipated within the counteroffensive as a result of they’ve encountered huge Russian minefields and trenches.
Maliar described the battlefield scenario within the east as “very hot” up to now week. She mentioned Russian troops have been gathering new forces there and regrouping, and Moscow was aiming to deploy its finest troops there.
Ukrainian forces had continued to advance south of Bakhmut, she mentioned, referring to the practically devastated japanese metropolis that was captured by Moscow’s troops in May after months of fierce combating.
She added that previously week Ukrainian forces had retaken 1 sq. km (0.39 sq. mile) round Bakhmut, and Russian troops had not made any advances.
In the most recent of Russia’s frequent air strikes on Ukraine, two individuals have been killed in a single day when a vegetable oil plant was hit within the central Poltava area, the area’s governor mentioned.
Russia mentioned it had shot down a Ukrainian drone flying in the direction of Moscow within the early hours of Monday, in an incident that briefly disrupted flights over the Russian capital.
Reuters couldn’t instantly affirm the scenario on the battlefield of the stories of the most recent assaults.
