Defense Express expert explains importance of liberating Rivnopil for counteroffensive

Valerii Riabykh, Development Director of the Defense Express information and consulting company, said this on Espreso TV. 

“The loss of Rivnopil to the Russian forces means that successful actions can be developed from this foothold, particularly in the southern direction. This is a very important settlement in tactical terms. We can now build on our successes in the direction of Remivka and Pryiutne. The direction of Staromlynivka remains relevant. Creating tension for the enemy along the entire length of the Vremiivka salient makes it impossible to move reserves and respond adequately, which could lead to a collapse of defense in this area. Also, the invading Russian troops may be forced to move reserves from other areas that may be less threatening to them,” he said.

Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive: chronology

On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced the liberation of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka settlements, near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

On the morning of June 12, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Ukrainian state flag was raised again over Storozhove, Donetsk region.

She said that over the past week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had liberated 7 settlements and advanced 6.5 kilometers.

On June 19, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian troops were attacking in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. Despite the losses, Russian troops are trying to advance, but are not successful.

Also, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Pyatykhatky, Zaporizhzhia region, and advanced up to 7 km in the Tavria direction.

On June 20, the General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were consolidating their positions in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, while particularly heavy fighting was taking place in the Lyman direction.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under occupation since 2014.

On June 24, the eastern grouping of Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in several other areas simultaneously.

On June 25, the General Staff reported that the enemy was attacking in the Lyman, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. There were 29 combat engagements on the frontline over the day.

On June 26, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced 1 to 2 kilometers on the eastern frontline in the past week. During the offensive in the southern direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated 130 square kilometers.

On June 26, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had de-occupied the village of Rivnopil, Donetsk region. It is located in the Volnovakha district of the Donetsk region. The Russian army occupied the village in March 2022.