While Ukrainian officials have refrained from publicly acknowledging the operation, the retaking of Blahodatne highlights the country's advancement in reclaiming territories.
In a recent development, Ukraine's military reported the successful recapture of the village of Blahodatne in the eastern Donetsk region, hinting at a potential counteroffensive against Russian forces. Although Ukrainian officials have refrained from publicly acknowledging the operation, the retaking of Blahodatne signifies a significant advancement. However, caution remains essential as broader efforts to expel Russian troops are expected to take time.
The 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared a video on Facebook, showcasing soldiers proudly raising the Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in the recaptured village. The Ukrainian Ground Forces confirmed the brigade's successful retaking of Blahodatne through a separate social media post.
Myroslav Semeniuk, spokesman for the brigade, revealed that an assault team had apprehended six Russian troops while entering several buildings where approximately 60 soldiers had taken shelter. Undeterred by ongoing shelling, Semeniuk asserted, "The enemy keeps shelling us, but this won't stop us." He further disclosed their plan to proceed southward, targeting the village of Urozhayne as their next objective.
However, Western and Ukrainian leaders have consistently cautioned against undue haste, emphasizing that efforts to expel Russian forces more broadly will require considerable time and strategic planning. While Russia maintains its claims of repelling Ukrainian attacks, the recapture of Blahodatne points to a limited Ukrainian advance.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, claimed that Blahodatne, along with two other villages in Zaporizhzhia, exist in a contentious "gray area" regarding control. Rogov further alleged that Ukrainian forces briefly seized another village in the neighboring Donetsk region but were swiftly driven out by Russian troops.
Adding to the complexities, the Russian military accused Ukrainian forces of attempting to attack one of its ships in the Black Sea. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, six unmanned speedboats targeted the Priazovye reconnaissance vessel, responsible for monitoring the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines' security in the southeastern part of the Black Sea. Russian forces claimed to have destroyed all the speedboats, with no reported damage to the ship. The veracity of these claims could not be independently verified, and Ukrainian officials refrained from immediate comment.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently acknowledged "counteroffensive and defensive actions" against Russian forces, he remained tight-lipped about specific details. Zelenskyy conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his top commanders displayed a "positive" mindset amidst intense fighting along the front line. His remarks came during a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in response to Putin's assertion that Ukrainian forces were incurring "significant losses" as the counteroffensive unfolded.
Though Ukrainian authorities have not officially declared a full-fledged counteroffensive, reports of escalated fighting and the mobilization of reserve troops suggest a heightened intensity in the conflict.
(With AP Inputs)