Is THIS Ukraine’s breakthrough? Kyiv claims they’ve recaptured village from Putin’s forces in Donetsk as they punch through Russian lines

Ukraine appears to have made the most significant breakthrough of its counter-offensive against Russian forces. 

After two months of being held off along the frontline, Western-backed troops have finally punched through the invaders’ defences. 

The advance near Robotyne, in Zaporizhzhia province, suggests Ukrainian forces may be capable of making inroads deep into Russian-held territory.

The attacks, involving up to 80 tanks and armoured vehicles, destroyed Russian fortifications which had previously proved impregnable. Ukrainian commanders are understood to have used their best troops and best equipment, having previously held them in reserve.

The army recaptured the village of Staromaiorske on the southern front in a major breakthrough for President Volodymyr Zelensky – who posted a video of his forces celebrating liberating the territory.

‘The 35th brigade and the ‘Ariy’ territorial defence unit have fulfilled their task and liberated the village of Staromaiorske. Glory to Ukraine! said a soldier in the video.  Zelensky posted the video of at least eight soldiers holding the Ukrainian flag aloft with the caption: ‘Our South! Our guys! Glory to Ukraine!’

Russian despot Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukrainian attacks in the south had intensified. 

Zelensky has acknowledged progress in the counteroffensive has been slower than desired, but last night touted ‘very good results’ from the front, without providing details. 

He said in his nightly video address on Wednesday: ‘By the way, today our boys had very good results at the front. Good for them! Details will follow.’ 

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Maliar also confirmed the Ukrainian army had seized the village. She wrote on Telegram: ‘Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region has been liberated. Our defenders are currently carrying out clearing operations’ of Russian troops.’

The breakthrough was also confirmed by Western military think-tanks and pro-Russian bloggers.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US think-tank, said: ‘Ukrainian forces managed to penetrate and drive through tactically challenging defensive positions.

‘Reports indicate that Ukraine may be employing fresh and generally more experienced units. [They] appear to have broken through certain pre-prepared Russian defensive positions.

‘These actions are likely the start of a ‘main thrust’ Ukrainian forces might be launching, rather than the sum of such a thrust. Gains are likely to occur over a long period of time, interspersed with lulls and grinding efforts.’

Details of the advance remained scant yesterday and it is unclear whether either side sustained heavy casualties.

It had been feared that Russian ordnance, planted in anticipation of Ukraine’s advance, would prevent such progress. These minefields must be cleared by hand, often under fire, before armoured vehicles can advance.

There are three axes to Ukraine’s counter-offensive – east towards the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut, south-east through Vuhledar and south towards the city of Tokmak. The advance near Robotyne is part of the southern axis.

Battles have raged in recent weeks on multiple points along the over the 600 mile front line as Ukraine wages a counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons and Western-trained troops against Russian forces who invaded 17 months ago.

Putin praised the ‘heroism’ with which Russian soldiers were repelling attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region of the southeast, claiming Moscow’s troops not only destroyed Ukraine’s military equipment but also inflicted heavy losses to Kyiv’s forces.

He insisted on state TV Ukraine’s push in the area ‘wasn’t successful,’ although it was not possible to independently verify his report. Putin was in St. Petersburg at a summit of African leaders.

Up until today’s major victory, Ukrainian troops have made only incremental gains since launching a counteroffensive in early June. Putin has repeatedly claimed Ukraine has suffered heavy losses, without offering evidence.

Ukraine has committed thousands of troops in the region in recent days, according to a Western official who was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter.

The Russian army has set up vast minefields to stymie Ukrainian advances and used combat aircraft and loitering munitions to strike Ukrainian armour and artillery.

Ukrainian authorities have kept operational details of the counteroffensive under wraps, and they have released scant information about its progress.

However, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Wednesday that troops are advancing toward the city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhizhia region.

The seizure of Melitopol near the Sea of Azov would be a major success for Ukraine, which hopes to punch through the land corridor between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. That could split Russian forces into two and cut supply lines to units farther west. Russia currently controls the whole Sea of Azov coast.

If Ukraine has taken Russian Staromaiorske, it could open the way for Kyiv forces to push southward toward the coast.

Ukrainian forces are using controversial US cluster munitions fired from 155mm heavy guns.

According to bloggers, the operation to liberate Staromaiorske began at dawn on Wednesday in a forest north-east of Robotyne. Kyiv’s forces broke through the first line of Russia’s defence, but they were delayed by minefields. It is anticipated that Ukraine will send reinforcements to the area to capitalise on the gains made.

The Ukrainian forces are understood to be utilising tactics learned from lengthy training exercises overseen by Nato troops, including British soldiers.

The focus of Kyiv forces north of Robotyne follows the Kremlin’s dismissal of the commander of that stretch of the frontline, Major General Ivan Popov. He was removed after criticising the provision of troops and equipment.

The Ukrainian push comes in the wake of Russian military and political turmoil in June that saw warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private mercenary group, stage a short-lived rebellion that posed the gravest threat to Putin in his 23-year rule.

The mercenaries have withdrawn from the battlefield in Ukraine, where they played a pivotal role in capturing the stronghold of Bakhmut following the war’s longest battle. Thousands of Wagner troops have reportedly moved to Belarus to help train its troops before moving to Africa.

Ukraine’s National Resistance Centre has claimed new Wagner mercenary recruits are told they must agree to fight inside Nato countries Poland and Lithuania when they sign contracts.

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Papua New Guinea that Kyiv’s effort to retake land seized by Russia since its full-scale invasion in February 2022 would be tough and long, with successes and setbacks.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said ‘an intense battle’ is taking place but declined to provide details.

‘We believe that tools, the equipment, the training, the advice that many of us have shared with Ukrainians over many months puts them in good position to be successful on the ground in recovering more of the territory that Russia has taken from Ukraine,’ Blinken said in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, a missile strike on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region killed one civilian and further damaged its port infrastructure in the latest attack since Moscow broke off a grain export agreement, Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

The attack used Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea, he said.

Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 36 Russian missiles launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.