Ukraine claims recapture of fourth village as counteroffensive operations roll on

The Ukrainian counter offensive has resulted in the repossession of another southeastern village from Russian forces

Ukrainian military officials said on June 12 that their troops had retaken another southeastern village from the Russian forces, as part of a stepped-up counteroffensive campaign against Moscow's more than 15-month invasion of Ukraine.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukraine’s flag was again flying over the village of Storozhov adding that all Ukrainian land would be eventually liberated. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials had said that a cluster of three small villages south of the town of Velika Novosilke in the eastern Donetsk region had been liberated from Russian control.

The villages are located in the so-called “Vremivka ledge”, a section of the front line where the Russian-controlled area protrudes into territory held by Ukraine. The area is of several epicentres of intense fighting.

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The Russian Defence Ministry hasn’t confirmed the Russian retreat from the villages, but some military bloggers have acknowledged the loss of Russian control over them.

Russian authorities, meanwhile, have said their troops have largely held their ground along the over 1,000-km arc of front line area along the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine.

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