"Ukrainian officials formally acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had liberated Robotyne amid continued Ukrainian advances in western Zaporizhia Oblast and near Bakhmut" in the southeastern Donetsk region, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest analysis of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The US-based think tank noted that Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Monday that "Ukrainian forces have liberated Robotyne, achieved unspecified successes southeast of Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv) and south of Mala Tokmachka (7km southeast of Orikhiv), and are advancing in the directions of Novodanylivka (4km south of Orikhiv), Novopokropivka (15km south of Orikhiv), Mala Tokmachka, and Ocheretuvate (25km southwest of Orikhiv)."
'Ukrainian forces advanced near Verbove'
"Heat anomalies from NASA FIRMS/VIIRS sensors and Russian claims of Ukrainian advances likely indicate that Ukrainian forces advanced near Verbove," according to the ISW.
Malyar also stated that "Ukrainian forces pushed Russian forces out of positions east of Klishchiivka (7km southwest of Bakhmut) and in the center of the settlement and have made unspecified progress near Orikhovo-Vasylivka (11km northwest of Bakhmut)," the ISW reported.
Malyar said that Ukrainian forces were continuing "offensive operations in the southern direction, which she specified is the main direction of Ukrainian offensive operations," the ISW noted.
It said Malyar’s statement was "consistent with the scale of Ukrainian offensive operations that ISW has observed in southern and eastern Ukraine."
Ukrainian forces "are currently conducting two operational efforts in southern Ukraine in western Zaporizhia Oblast and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area," the ISW assessed, adding that "Malyar did not indicate one effort as the main offensive direction."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 552 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, understandingwar.org