Ukraine's army has left the village of Urozjine in the Donetsk region. Russian forces have taken control of several communities in the area during the summer.
Only ruins were left of the village, making it impossible to hold positions there, according to Nazar Volosjyn, spokesperson for local ground forces, to the news agency AP.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced control over the village several days ago. Volosjyn does not confirm when the Ukrainians retreated.
Russia took over the village at the beginning of the full-scale invasion war in 2022, but Ukrainian forces retook control last summer.
The Russian summer offensive has reduced several Ukrainian cities and communities to ruins, and Ukraine has failed to hold back on several fronts. The military is said to have lacked sufficient weapons to push back the Russians.
The situation improved somewhat after the US approved a military aid package to Ukraine in the spring – but the equipment is not arriving quickly enough to stop the Russian advance, particularly in Donetsk, writes AP. According to military sources and analysts who have spoken to the news agency, Ukraine is choosing to relinquish some territories in order to better fight from more defended positions instead.
In the Donetsk region, Russia has made a series of smaller advances this year, starting in Avdijivka in February. However, neither side has made any major breakthroughs and is believed to be stuck in a war of attrition.
