MOSCOW: The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its forces have captured the village of Mezhove in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a string of territorial advances for Moscow’s troops in the ongoing conflict.
According to Moscow, Mezhove is strategically located between the town of Avdiivka, which was captured in February, and Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub that Russian forces are advancing toward. The capture of Mezhove follows a pattern of incremental territorial advances reported by Russia over recent weeks, including other towns and small villages in the area.
The Russian offensive in the Donetsk region continues despite ongoing Ukrainian counter-attacks in Russia’s Kursk border region. The conflict has resulted in a strained situation for Ukraine, which has faced significant manpower and ammunition shortages throughout 2024. The industrial eastern region has seen heavy fighting and a prolonged stalemate in recent months.
In response to the advancing Russian troops, Ukrainian authorities have begun evacuating civilians from Pokrovsk and nearby areas, which are about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the frontline. Officials estimate that around 50,000 residents remain in these areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is actively involved in coordinating the defence efforts, visited the Sumy region on Thursday. This area, located just across the border from Russia’s Kursk region, has become a focal point of a Ukrainian offensive.
Zelensky’s visit included a meeting with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky and the head of the Sumy regional military administration.
On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale assault into Russian territory, capturing several settlements and surprising the Kremlin. Zelensky reported that Ukrainian troops had seized another settlement and captured additional prisoners of war, which could be used for future exchanges.
The Ukrainian offensive aims to create a “buffer zone” within Russian territory, seek a resolution to the war on “fair” terms, and stretch Russian forces across multiple fronts. However, the Ukrainian military continues to face challenges in the eastern Donbas region, where Russian forces have been making steady progress.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd region. A source from Ukraine’s Security Services said that the operation was intended to diminish Russia’s aerial superiority and limit their aircraft capabilities. The regional governor of Volgograd, Andrei Bocharov, confirmed that a drone downed by air defences caused a fire at a defence ministry facility.
Russia has condemned the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, which has resulted in civilian casualties. According to the TASS state news agency, at least 31 civilians have been killed and 143 injured as a result of the conflict in the region.
