This marks a crucial advancement in Ukraine's ongoing efforts to counter the Russian occupation.

The 68th separate hunting brigade of Ukraine's ground forces declared the liberation of Blahodatne village, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar confirmed that both Blahodatne and Makarivka have been freed from Russian invaders.

“Progress has been made in the Berkhivske Reservoir area, with an advance of 250 meters. In the southern region, there have been notable advances in two directions, spanning from 300 to 1500 meters. As a result, the populated villages of Blahodatne and Makarivka have been successfully liberated,” Malyar wrote on Telegram.

The Ukrainian forces also revealed that they have captured several Russian soldiers, gaining access to valuable information that will greatly assist in their continued operations to reclaim Ukrainian territory from Russian occupation.

Malyar emphasized that Ukrainian troops are actively engaged in assault operations near the strategically important city of Bakhmut. She reassured that the defensive positions held by Ukrainian forces in the area remain strong and intact. Notably, the Ukrainian army has made impressive advancements of 300 to 1,500 meters in two sectors of the southern region.

The successful recapture of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka villages in the Donetsk region signifies a significant milestone in Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive to reclaim territories occupied by Russian forces. These efforts have been bolstered by the recent delivery of advanced weapon systems from Western allies.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Saturday that the Ukrainian army is currently engaged in "counter-offensive and defensive" operations. However, he refrained from providing further details regarding the ongoing military campaign. (ILKHA)