Russian forces ‘abandon’ key village in major Ukraine counteroffensive win

Ukraine reportedly recaptured the key village of Urozhaine after weeks of heavy fighting while decimated Russian forces abandoned their positions. Several Russian military bloggers – who have been a key source of information on Moscow’s forces during the war – reported the defeat which opens up a line of attack towards the Black Sea around 50 miles away. In addition, a video taken by a drone circulating online appeared to show three tanks from the Ukrainian marine corps 35th Brigade firing while moving through the town on Friday. ‘A number of military channels, not prone to alarmism, report the abandonment of the Russian Armed Forces after many days of bloody battles,’ one prominent blogger wrote on Telegram . Another added : ‘Today, the village of Urozhaine was abandoned in the Yuzhnodonetsk direction.’ For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to Daily Express US Ukraine is making a push down the Mokri Yaly River Valley towards Mariupol. (Image: GETTY) That blogger blamed Russia ‘s 37th Brigade tank forces for ‘refusing’ to support infantry in the destroyed town claiming ‘half of the brigade is busy drinking alcohol in the rear, and the officers are not able to bring them to their senses’. The capture of Urozhaine would be another step in Kyiv’s plan to push down the Mokri Yaly River Valley towards Mariupol and the Black Sea. It is believed that the entire Ukrainian marine corps has been thrown into the fierce fighting on this small 10-mile strip in the southern front. The next village on the axis – one of about a dozen more before Mariupol – is the heavily defended Staromlynivka. Ukraine has recaptured Urozhaine on the Mokri Yaly River Valley. (Image: Google Maps) If Ukrainian forces were to reach Mariupol – a tall order due to entrenched Russian defences – it would effectively cut Russian forces in half and leave all of Moscow’s troops in southern Ukraine reliant on Crimea for resupply. Ukraine is also attempting to sever supply lines on the occupied peninsula and yesterday, the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea and Russia was attacked. If the attack caused any damage to the bridge and Russian sources claimed their troops had downed a modified S-200 Ukraine fired at the structure. While Ukraine still has miles and miles of entrenched Russian defences to fight through before they reach the Black Sea, the taking of Urozhaine appears to be a step in the right for Kyiv’s ongoing counter-offensive.   Follow our social media accounts here on   http://facebook.com/ExpressUSNews   and   ExpressUSNews