Editor’s observe: The article was expanded with a press release from the Khortytsia group of forces.
Russia’s Protection Ministry claimed on Jan. 26 that its forces had captured Velyka Novosilka, a strategically important settlement within the western a part of Donetsk Oblast.
Ukraine’s one hundred and tenth Mechanized Brigade, which is deployed within the space, acknowledged a withdrawal from components of the village to keep away from encirclement however claimed that preventing is ongoing elsewhere in Velyka Novosilka.
"Fights in Velyka Novosilka are ongoing. Russian forces shelled our positions 30 instances," the Khortytsia group of forces mentioned on Jan. 27.
"The Protection Forces proceed inflicting casualties to Russia in manpower and gear throughout tense battles."
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm the claims.
The village with a pre-war inhabitants of 5,000 lies solely round 15 kilometers from the executive border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast and 20 kilometers from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a area up to now untouched by Russian occupation.
If confirmed, this might characterize probably the most important acquire of Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast since overrunning Kurakhove earlier in January.
The one hundred and tenth Brigade mentioned that each Russia and Ukraine had parity in gear however Moscow had important benefit in manpower.
In response to the Ukrainian army, Russian forces will battle to advance their offensive onward. The Mokri Yaly River creates an impediment for Russia’s advance and Russian troops are in a weak "hearth pocket," mentioned the brigade.
Combating is at a really heavy stage in Donetsk Oblast and Russian troops proceed to advance, albeit slowly, this 12 months. All through the autumn of 2024, Russian forces made operational positive factors in southern Donetsk Oblast, together with areas close to Toretsk and Chasiv Yar, whereas advancing close to Kupiansk and on Russian soil in Kursk Oblast.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima