Ukraine announced on Tuesday that its troops had entered the strategic village of Robotyne in the country’s southeast, a potentially significant advance in its counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Ukrainian soldier in RobotynPhoto: Twitter / Defense of Ukraine / 47th Mechanized Brigade

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported on the Telegram messenger that the Ukrainian military is organizing the evacuation of civilians after entering Robotyn, but is still facing shelling from Russian troops.

Robotyne is located 10 km south of the front-line town of Orihiv, Zaporizhzhia region, on the main road to Tokmak, a Russian-occupied road and rail hub.

The capture of Tokmak will be a key milestone as Ukrainian forces advance south to the Sea of ​​Azov, a military effort to cut the Russian occupation forces in half.

In a video released by the Ukrainian military, a woman can be seen kissing a Ukrainian soldier, while several evacuated residents are talking on the phone with their loved ones.

“From a psychological point of view, it was very difficult (…). I waited so long that today they came unexpectedly. We couldn’t even believe that they were ours (…) We are very grateful to the guys (groups),” the 52-year-old woman says in the video.

Reuters was able to verify the location using aerial photographs of the route of the roads and the location of the buildings seen in the footage, which matched satellite images of the area. Reuters was unable to independently verify the date of the shooting. Russia did not comment on Robotyne’s report.

ISW: Significant tactical gains

Ukrainian forces made significant tactical gains on Sunday and Monday in and east of Robotyny in western Zaporizhzhia region, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released this evening.

The Ukrainian attacks in Robotyn are of tactical importance, as an advance in the area could allow Ukrainian forces to begin operating outside the densest Russian minefields, ISW said.

In addition, the persistent Ukrainian advance in the Robotyn area is likely aimed at humiliating the Russian forces, which have invested a lot of effort, resources and troops to hold positions around Robotyn.