Ukrainian forces continued their counteroffensive against Russian-held positions in the southeast of the country on Thursday (Jul 27), successfully capturing the village of Staromaiorske. The strategy aims to break through Russian defensive lines, concentrating on securing villages during the southward push and areas surrounding the eastern city of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May after months of intense battles.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin denying any significant progress by the Ukrainian forces, citing successful retaliation against every Ukrainian attack, Ukrainian officials have reported steady, albeit slow, advancements.
An anonymous U.S. official disclosed that Ukraine has deployed additional Western-trained troops in the counteroffensive, although some are still held in reserve. This move marks a new phase in the campaign.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a celebratory video on his Telegram channel showing Ukrainian soldiers following the liberation of Staromaiorske. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar declared the village free, with Ukrainian forces continuing to clear the settlement.
While unable to provide specific details, Zelenskyy hinted at "very good results" on the battlefield during a Wednesday announcement. He further cautioned against expecting swift, cinematic outcomes.
In his travels through the southern and eastern regions on Thursday, Zelenskyy visited the city of Dnipro, the port of Odesa, which has suffered damage from Russian air strikes, and the town of Ochakiv, a frequent target of Russian artillery.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko highlighted the village of Staromlynivka as the new focal point of Ukrainian efforts in the southward push. The goal of the drive is to disrupt the land bridge that Russian forces have established, connecting occupied areas in the east with Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Despite considerable progress made by Ukrainian troops, particularly in the northeast and far south, Russia continues to control approximately 20% of Ukraine's land.
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