Ukraine confirms liberation of Piatykhatky settlement in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

On 19 June, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed that Ukrainian forces liberated Piatykhatky, a settlement in the westernmost Vasylivka direction in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Over the past two weeks of the counteroffensive actions, the Ukrainian units retook control of 113 square kilometers, advanced up to 7 km, and liberated eight settlements, according to her.

The confirmation of the liberation of Piatykhatky comes a day after the Russian occupation authorities claimed that Ukraine had captured the settlement.

Situation in southern Ukraine as of 19 June 2023. The blue marker shows Zaporizhzhia’s Piatykhatky. Map: Deepstatemap

According to Maliar, over the past week, the Russian troops continued assault actions in several directions in Donetsk Oblast but failed to achieve any successes:

“The enemy continued assaults in the Lyman-Kupiansk, Avdiivka, and Mariinka sectors last week. We did not lose a single meter of ground in these areas thanks to the professionalism and courage of our soldiers,” she wrote.

Russian forces deployed additional units in the Bakhmut sector, and increased the number of attacks in this sector, while the overall intensity of fighting decreased last week in the country’s east.

“41 firefights took place, and our troops advanced into the enemy’s depths in several areas,” Maliar says, adding that Russians carried out 5,800 fire attacks in the area.

In Ukraine’s south, Ukrainian troops continued offensive actions last week:

“In the course of two weeks of offensive operations in the Berdiansk and Melitopol directions, the Tavria [Operative Strategic Group of Forces] liberated eight settlements: Novodarivka, Levadne, Storozheve, Makarivka, Blahodatne, Lobkove, Neskuchne, and Pyatikhatky. In total, the units in the Tauride sector advanced into the enemy’s depths to 7 km. The area liberated in the south is 113 km²,” Maliar reported on Telegram.

Situation around Piatykhatky, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as of 19 June 2023. Map: Deepstatelive

As of 14 June, the Ukrainian General Staff claimed the liberation of more than 100 km². The Defense Ministry announced the liberation of seven settlements on 12 June.

Maliar added that last week Russia lost 4,600 killed and wounded in action in all directions, and 400 pieces of equipment, while over 80 Russian soldiers were captured.

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