Ukraine liberates 26 settlements in major counteroffensive

The Ukrainian military command has announced the liberation of 26 settlements during a major counteroffensive near Oleksandrivka in the southeast. The operation has resulted in the recovery of significant territory, with Ukrainian Air Assault Forces reporting over 745 square kilometers reclaimed, while the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates a more conservative figure of approximately 626.69 square kilometers.

The liberated areas include twelve settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast, ten in the Donetsk region, and four in the Zaporizhzhia region. Analysts from the ISW suggest this operation demonstrates Ukraine's continued ability to execute coordinated, mechanized counterattacks following years of largely static combat.

Kyiv stated the counteroffensive aims to halt anticipated Russian advances and expel Moscow's forces from the Dnipropetrovsk region. The ISW attributes the success to several factors, including improved operational planning, the suppression of Russian air defense systems, intensified long-range strikes on Russian logistics, tactical advantages in drone warfare, and the disruption of Starlink connectivity for Russian units.