Ukraine’s army has denied that it had lost Krynky, its bridgehead on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro river, a day after Russia’s defence minister said the area had been taken.
Ukrainian troops last year established positions around the tiny east bank village on the war, crossing into the Moscow-controlled side of the river in what was touted as a major success.
The Dnipro river marks the frontline along the southern end of the front.
“We officially inform that this information is not true,” the command of the Ukrainian army on the southern front said on social media.
“The defence forces of southern Ukraine continue to hold their positions [in Krynky].”
It claimed Russian forces made an assault on Krynky but suffered “significant losses” and retreated.
AFP was not able to verify the claims.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin yesterday that Krynky had been “cleared” of Ukrainian forces.
Krynky is a tiny hamlet that lies in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.
The front in southern and eastern Ukraine has barely moved in months, as Moscow’s offensive this will enter its third year.
Russia’s top general visits troops in Ukraine to discuss next steps
Russia’s top general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, visited troops fighting in the war in Ukraine to discuss the next steps after the taking the town of Avdiivka, state media has reported.
President Vladimir Putin said yesterday Russian troops would push further into Ukraine to build on their success on the battlefield after the fall of the town of Avdiivka where he said Ukrainian troops had been forced to flee in chaos.
Mr Gerasimov was shown awarding medals to Russian troops involved in taking Avdiivka and he was given a report by the commander in charge of the Russian assault on Avdiivka, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev, state media said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CNN that Avdiivka would not have fallen had Kyiv received weapons held up by the US Congress’ failure to approve a large aid package.
After the failure of Ukraine to pierce Russian frontlines in the east and south last year, Moscow has been trying to grind down Ukrainian forces just as Kyiv ponders a major new mobilisation.
