Ukraine Forces Retake Village in the Mokri Yaly River Valley, Advancing Further in the South
Ukraine’s forces have made significant progress in their offensive against Russian forces in the south of the country. On Wednesday, Ukraine announced that they had retaken the tiny village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, after Russian forces claimed to have retreated following more than a week of intense fighting.
The recapture of Urozhaine is a crucial development as it means that Ukraine now holds positions on both banks of the Mokri Yaly River. This strategic gain opens up more options for Ukraine’s forces as they attempt to advance on Russian strongholds further south. However, the fact that the progress is measured by the recapture of small villages highlights the difficulties of the ongoing fighting.
Hanna Malyar, Ukraine’s deputy minister of defense, stated, “Urozhaine has been liberated,” confirming the Ukrainian forces’ successful operation. On the other hand, the Russian Vostok battalion, which took part in the battle, admitted, “We lost Urozhaine.” However, both claims have not been independently verified.
Both sides have claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the other, but no official figures have been released. The village of Urozhaine, once home to fewer than 1,000 people, has been devastated by the fighting. It is the first village known to be recaptured by Ukraine’s forces since they regained control of Staromaiorske in late July.
The ultimate objective of Ukraine is to reach the Sea of Azov and disrupt the so-called land bridge between Russia and Crimea. This land bridge plays a crucial role in Russia’s military supply routes to the west. By posing a direct threat to Moscow’s supply lines, Ukrainian forces aim to make Russia’s defensive positions untenable.
Ukraine now has several options for concentrating their forces. They can attempt to push around the Russian-held village of Staromlynivka, located four miles south of Urozhaine, as they advance southwest towards Berdiansk. Alternatively, they can redirect their offensive southeast towards Mariupol if it presents a better opportunity. Both Mariupol and Berdiansk are major port cities on the Sea of Azov, situated more than 50 miles away.
However, Russian forces control numerous small villages along both routes, making rapid Ukrainian advances unlikely. The offensive has been hindered at every step by vast minefields, Russian aircraft attacks, and entrenched Russian forces.
According to the Russian Vostok battalion, the Ukrainians who breached their defenses are now headed east towards the village of Oktyabrskoye. The battalion reported, “About seven units of armored vehicles, accompanied by infantry, are trying to find a new promising direction.” However, this claim remains unverified, and Ukraine’s military has not disclosed any information about their soldiers’ movements.
Colonel Petro Chernyk, speaking at a Ukrainian military news briefing, described the formidable defenses established by the Russians in southern Ukraine. These defenses include vast minefields stretching across miles as the first line, artillery and concentrated troops forming the second line, and rear positions to preserve resources serving as the third line.
Furthermore, Ukraine’s forces have also made small gains along a second line of attack in southern Ukraine. They are pressing on Russian defensive lines around the town of Robotyne, located approximately 50 miles north of Melitopol, a crucial transit hub near the coast, according to Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military’s general staff.
Despite their advances in the south, Ukrainian forces find themselves on the defensive in the east. The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, admitted in a Telegram post that defending against Russia’s mounting offensive in northeastern Ukraine, particularly around the city of Kupiansk, has been challenging. He added that Ukrainian troops are holding the line and gradually moving forward in defending positions near Bahkmut, the site of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle.
A correction was made on August 17, 2023, regarding the potential direction of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces could push southwest toward Berdiansk or southeast toward Mariupol, not the other way around.
As the conflict continues, Ukraine’s forces face significant challenges in their efforts to regain control of their territories and secure their borders. The situation remains dynamic, with both sides engaged in intense fighting and vying for strategic gains.