By Moscow, Russia, July 2024 – Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that its forces have taken control of the village of Urozhaine in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. If confirmed, this would mark the latest in a series of gains for Russia as they target the strategic town of Avdiivka in Donetsk.
Ukrainian bloggers have suggested that Kyiv’s forces have relinquished control of the village, which is situated south of the Russian-held city of Donetsk. However, Ukraine’s military reported that fighting is still ongoing in the area.
As a result of successful actions, the ‘east’ group of forces has taken control of the locality of Urozhaine in Donetsk region... and are carrying out mopping-up and demining operations,” the Russian Defence Ministry said on Telegram.
Reuters has not been able to independently verify the Ukrainian or Russian reports.
The village initially came under Russian control early in the February 2022 invasion, but Ukrainian forces recaptured the settlement near the Mokryi Yaly river in July 2023.
The operation was part of Ukraine’s counter-offensive in southern and eastern areas along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line; however, the advance made only limited headway.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces, in a Sunday morning report, stated that Russia had launched 18 attacks on Urozhaine and other nearby areas. It confirmed intense fighting in the village in a late afternoon report.
DeepState, a popular Ukrainian military blog, reported Urozhaine’s capture on Sunday, saying Russian forces had launched “mass assaults on the south of the village.
