War: Russia captures vital Shevchenko village from Skala Regiment, retakes Kursk Oleshnya in double blow to Ukraine

Not long after claiming that Russian soldiers recaptured the village of Oleshnya in Russia's western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, Moscow on Saturday also claimed to have taken control of the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

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Russia has been fighting to repel Ukrainian troops from Kursk since Kyiv sent its forces across the border in a lightning incursion in August 2024. Driving out the enemy completely from Kursk could strengthen Vladimir Putin's position when the matter comes to the negotiation table. 

 

For Ukraine, Shevchenko is strategically important as its elevated terrain is critical to establish a fortified defense line around Pokrovsk. Thus, they had toiled hard to drive the Russians out after an initial setback in January. 

 

However, none of the Western news agencies could independently verify the fall of Shevchenko into Russian hands. The Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday also claimed that Ukraine carried out 10 attacks on the country's energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours. The U.S. brokered a 30-day moratorium in March between Ukraine and Russia against strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of violating it.

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A few days ago, pro-Ukrainian media reports had said that Russian commanders were sacrificing their men in large numbers in an effort to take Shevchenko. The defenders had fortified their positions around  Shevchenko, giving the enemy no chance of advancing, they had said.  Shevchenko has one of the largest lithium deposits on Ukrainian territory.

 

Ukraine had claimed to have cut off Russian reinforcement routes after making sudden advancements. Kyiv had reportedly entrusted ts battle-hardened Skala Regiment to protect Shevchenko. It was reported that Russian soldiers were asked to make most of the tree lines and vegetation to avoid drones during their advances. It  remains unknown how they have managed to outgun the Skala Regiment in a matter of days.

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