Russian forces have taken control of two front-line villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, as reported by a Ukrainian army sergeant on Monday. The assaults are part of a Kremlin summer offensive to overwhelm battlefield defenses in the area.
In a separate incident, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted attacks in Russia’s Kursk region, resulting in power outages at several substations. The Ukrainian General Staff claimed responsibility for the attacks following Russia’s announcement of thwarting a Ukrainian drone attack.
Oleh Chaus, the chief sergeant of Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, mentioned that Russian forces made continuous efforts to capture the villages of Vovche and Prohres by deploying a large number of troops previously unused.
Although Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed control of the villages, the Ukrainian General Staff did not issue an official statement. The villages are located around 20 miles northwest of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk previously seized by the Russian army in February.
According to Oleksandr Shyrshyn, the deputy battalion commander of the 47th brigade, the villages were indeed taken, attributing the setbacks to poor troop training, officer abilities, motivation, and inadequate weapons.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the Donetsk region as “extremely challenging.” Russia’s strategy of attritional warfare using powerful glide bombs has resulted in incremental gains as they seek another breakthrough.
RELATED STORY | Putin pledges a cease-fire in Ukraine if Kyiv withdraws from occupied regions and drops NATO bid
Ukraine faces a significant military disadvantage against Russia’s larger army along the approximately 600-mile front line.
Russian forces are intensifying their efforts to breach Ukrainian defenses around Pokrovsk. The General Staff reported 52 attacks in the area in the previous 24 hours, nearly double the recent daily average.
Meanwhile, Russian air defenses intercepted 39 Ukrainian drones over five regions, while Ukraine claimed strikes in the Kursk region. The attacks caused power outages in several districts after explosions near substations.
RELATED STORY | How a Trump-Vance administration could alter Ukraine’s war with Russia
The Security Service of Ukraine conducted the attacks on facilities supporting the Russian occupation army’s supply line. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting and destroying the drones, causing damage to infrastructure in bordering regions.
Ukraine has been using advanced drone technology to target critical infrastructure in Russia, aiming to increase the cost of the war for Moscow and impede its military operations.
