Ukraine’s troops push deeper into Russian defensive positions as Kyiv’s counter-offensive makes more gains in Zaporizhzhia despite Putin deploying elite unit in region

Ukraine’s forces have pushed deeper into Russian defensive lines in the country’s south, Kyiv said today, as it presses on with its counteroffensive.

Kyiv launched the grinding assault in June after stockpiling Western-supplied weapons and building up assault battalions.

While progress has been slow, gains have been made, and on Monday Kyiv confirmed its forces had captured the village of Robotyne on the southern front – the latest in a series of villages liberated as Ukraine pushes towards the Sea of Azov.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in the strategic settlement, but were still carrying out mopping-up operations, amid reports that Vladimir Putin’s generals had redirected elements of their most elite fighting unit to the southern front to slow the AFU’s advance.

As Ukraine has stepped up its assault, Russia has stepped up its shelling. On Tuesday, Kyiv ordered the evacuation of children from five towns on southern front.