Russian forces have captured two front-line villages in eastern Donetsk region after sustained attacks as part of the Kremlin's summer push to overcome battlefield defenses, a Ukrainian army sergeant said yesterday, reports Associated Press, BTA reported.
Separately, according to a statement from the General Staff of Ukraine, attacks by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Russia's Kursk region affected a number of substations, causing power outages. The claim of responsibility came after Russia said it had foiled a nighttime attack by a Ukrainian drone.
"They don't stop the pressure“ to take over Vovche and Prokhres, stated on radio "Svoboda" the chief sergeant of the 47th separate mechanized brigade of Ukraine Oleh Chaus. "They sent a large number of soldiers who had not been used before,”, he adds.
Olexander Shirshin, deputy battalion commander in the 47th Brigade, also confirmed to local media that the villages had been captured. He blamed the failures on the poor training of the soldiers, the low ability of the officers, the motivation and insufficient weapons.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in recent days that it had taken control of the villages, but the Ukrainian General Staff made no official comment.
The villages are located about 30 km northwest of Avdeevka, the town that the Russian army captured in February after a prolonged battle. This victory was the Kremlin's last major triumph in the war, which is now in its third year.
Russia's offensive, fueled by its large numerical advantage in soldiers and weapons, repeatedly forced Ukrainians to withdraw from defensive positions to avoid being captured or killed, AP notes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late on Sunday described the situation in the Donetsk region as "extremely challenging”.