Zelenskyy says Ukraine makes gains for second day in a row in Donetsk region
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has achieved significant gains for the second day in a row on the most difficult parts of the front, near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
The President said he heard a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on the situation at the front, the defense of Ukrainian positions, and the intentions of the Russian army.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is holding positions along the entire front. He stressed that near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk, the toughest areas in the Donetsk region, the Defense Forces have recorded successes for the second consecutive day.
"In particular, I want to commend the units of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine Azov, the units of the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces, the units of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi, as well as the units of our 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade Kholodnyi Yar," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian President added that Russian troops trying to break through Ukrainian defenses and push deeper into Ukrainian positions are being destroyed. He said Ukraine has also captured more Russian soldiers, who could later be exchanged for Ukrainian POWs.
"The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the actions of our units in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. I am grateful to all our warriors for their resilience," Zelenskyy concluded.
Defense of Dobropillia: What is known
Recently, reports appeared online claiming Russian forces had made significant advances in the Dobropillia area. The claim was supported by the interactive DeepStateMap.
Later, Viktor Trehubov, a spokesman for the Dnipro Brigade, said only small groups of Russian soldiers, a few men each, had managed to advance. On August 14, Ukraine's General Staff reported the situation had stabilized.
On August 15, Zelenskyy wrote that Russia's attempts to show strength near Dobropillia resulted in heavy Russian losses. He also announced that Ukraine would reinforce defenses in the area to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In recent days, Ukraine's Defense Forces have stopped and blocked a Russian breakthrough near Dobropillia. The 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, Azov, is clearing several villages that Russian forces briefly reached. Meanwhile, the 93rd Mechanized Brigade inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops directly outside Dobropillia
