The war in Ukraine: Kiev recaptures a village in Donetsk

Today, the Ukrainian forces announced their success on the southeastern front, as yesterday (16.8.2023) they liberated a settlement. Yesterday, Wednesday, Ukraine announced that Russian forces had recaptured the village of Orozin, in the southeast of the country.

Orozin, on the outskirts of Donetsk Oblast, is the first village Kiev says it has recaptured from Russia since July 27, a sign of the difficulties Ukrainian forces are facing as they push through mined-off Russian defense lines without strong air support. “In the direction of Orozin (Ukrainian forces) succeeded,” military spokesman Andrei Kovalev said on public television. The spokesman did not reveal more details.

Kiev says its counter-offensive is proceeding more slowly than it would like because of Russia’s vast minefields and defense lines.

Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, most of Luhansk Oblast, and large parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson Oblasts.

Zelensky: We are ramping up the production of drones

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday that Kiev is “significantly” ramping up production of drones.

In his evening address, he insisted that such weapons are of paramount importance to the defense of his country after the Russian invasion in February 2022.

“It is the eyes, the protection on the front line (…) It is a guarantee that people do not need to pay with their lives,” said the Head of State, when machines can be used.

He also emphasized the delivery of such systems by his country’s allies in the West.

“In every combat unit, fighters demand drones first of all,” Mr. Zelensky said. [μέσα] electronic warfare and [συστήματα] Air defense.” He was referring to his visits to Ukrainian troops on the front lines in recent days.

Recently, Ukrainian drone-kamikaze attacks on Russia or Ukrainian territory controlled by the Russian military have become widespread. While earlier this month, Ukrainian USVs rammed a Russian landing craft belonging to the Black Sea Fleet and a Russian oil tanker, causing serious material damage in both cases.

At the end of July, Mr. Zelensky expressed his relief that the war was “reaching the territory of Russia.”