In the fiercest sector of the Donetsk region – near Dobropillya – Ukrainian forces have captured 69 Russian soldiers over the past month, according to the National Guard’s First Corps “Azov.”
The unit released a video on Telegram showing a group of Russian prisoners of war (POWs). In the footage, one soldier, speaking on behalf of the others, thanked the Ukrainian Defense Forces for sparing their lives and treating them according to the Geneva Convention.
“In pursuit of ‘successes,’ the Russian command sent the occupiers to attack the hottest point of the Donetsk region – Dobropillya,” Azov said in its report, stressing that the assault failed.
Ukrainian forces managed to stabilize the situation and capture dozens of Russian troops, as per the report.
The POWs were taken by fighters of the 4th operational brigade “Rubizh” of the National Guard and the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Bukovyna brigade.
“During a month of active fighting in the Dobropillya direction, where units of the 1st Corps of the NGU Azov, together with adjacent and subordinate units, hold the defense strip, 69 occupiers were taken prisoner. And this is not the end,” Azov added.
Earlier in August, the analytical project DeepState reported that Russian forces had broken through in the Dobropillya area, advancing toward the settlements of Kucheriv Yar, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, and Vesele.
According to the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping, Russian troops operated in small groups, attempting to bypass the first line of defense and exploit numerical superiority.
Despite this, Ukrainian troops managed to recapture a number of lost positions.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky said Russian troops briefly gained 13.5 sq. km in the sector but lost 25.5 sq. km in turn.
Syrsky earlier revealed that Russia initially exploited terrain advantages and gaps in Ukraine’s defenses near Dobropillya.
“The terrain there is full of ravines and rivers – natural features that allow for concealed movement. In summer, dense vegetation makes it difficult to control the line of contact,” he said, adding that the absence of a continuous front line gave Russia an early edge.
“But after a number of decisive measures were taken, additional airborne units were transferred, we cleared settlements and areas, and the enemy’s victorious mood changed to despair,” Syrsky said. “Their publications on social media initially had the tone of ‘forward, victory,’ and now – ‘surrounded. The end.’”
As of now, Ukrainian troops are conducting a “mop-up” of Russian units that broke through to the rear of Ukrainian positions near Dobropillya, preventing them from linking up with the main Russian force.