Russia claims control of village in eastern Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry announced progress in taking control of another village in Lugansk province. Ukraine has not confirmed this information but has described the situation there as "fierce".

"In the Kupyansk direction, military units of the Western Command with skill and professionalism liberated the village of Novoselivske in the Lugansk region," the Russian Defense Ministry announced on August 5.

Moscow claims the attacks are helping Russia increase its advantage on the front line near Kharkiv province.

Ukraine has not commented on this statement. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said yesterday that the Russian army has intensified its attacks in eastern Ukraine. Many areas have seen fierce fighting.

Kiev believes Moscow is trying to shift the focus of the war to this area, while Ukraine is focusing on its counterattack in the south. "In the direction of Kupyansk, the enemy aims to regain the territories it lost control of last year," said Ms. Maliar.

A Leopard 2A6 tank abandoned by Ukrainian soldiers after a battle near Malaya Tokmachka on June 8. Photo: Twitter/AndreiBtvt — A Leopard 2A6 tank abandoned by Ukrainian soldiers after a battle near Malaya Tokmachka on June 8. Photo: *Twitter/AndreiBtvt*

In September 2022, the Ukrainian army launched a lightning counterattack in the northeast of the country, regaining control of almost the entire Kharkiv province. Russia had previously controlled all of Lugansk, but Ukraine recaptured several villages there during the counterattack. The Ukrainian army then successfully surrounded the city of Kherson, forcing the Russian army to accept a retreat to the east bank of the Dnieper River.

Ukraine launched a new offensive in early June, sending several NATO-trained brigades armed with Western weapons to the front. Kiev has repeatedly claimed partial success, saying it has regained control of more than 210 square kilometers of territory.

However, the country has suffered heavy losses in troops and heavy equipment as it tries to break through the fortified Russian defenses. Ukrainian officials say the counter-offensive could be long and difficult, and have appealed to Western allies for more weapons.

The Russian military is sending reserve forces of professional units to the battlefields in the east and south. Deputy Minister Maliar assessed that Russia has sent airborne assault units into the battle, and also noted that fierce fighting continues in the cities of Avdeevka and Maryinka in Donetsk region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on August 4 that the Ukrainian army had lost more than 43,000 soldiers and 4,900 pieces of combat equipment after two months of counter-offensive. Ukraine and Russia rarely release casualty figures for their forces.