Ukrainian forces press southward, say strategic village recaptured from Russians

July 28 ------ Ukrainian forces pressed their counteroffensive through the Russian-occupied southeast on Thursday (Jul 27), capturing the village of Staromaiorske in a campaign to drive a wedge through Russian defensive positions. The counteroffensive has focused on securing villages on the southward push and areas around the eastern city of Bakhmut, taken by Russian forces in May after months of battles. Ukrainian officials have reported slow, steady progress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged intensified Ukrainian attacks over the last few days, but said they had made no headway. He told Russian television that every Ukrainian assault had been beaten back, and that Moscow's forces had inflicted significant losses on their opponents.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Ukraine had deployed additional Western-trained troops to at least one axis in the counteroffensive, but had held back some. Media reports spoke of a new phase in the drive. A video posted on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Telegram channel showed Ukrainian soldiers celebrating the capture of Staromaiorske in the southeast. "The 35th brigade and the 'Ariy' territorial defence unit have fulfilled their task and liberated the village of Staromaiorske. Glory to Ukraine!" said a soldier in the video that Reuters was unable to immediately geolocate. The village lies to the south of a cluster of small settlements that Ukraine recaptured along the Mokri Yaly River as the counteroffensive began. "Our defenders are now continuing to clear the settlement," said Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar declaring Staromaiorske liberated.

Zelensky has said that the counteroffensive is proceeding more slowly than he would like but warned people not to expect rapid results akin to a movie scene. Zelensky had obliquely hailed "very good results" on the battlefield, while giving no details.

Source: channelnewsasia.com