Russia says it seizes Ukrainian town of Maryinka; Kyiv denies the claim
Al Jazeera
Putin hails Moscow’s biggest military success since the capture of Bakhmut in May.
Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu says Russian troops have gained full control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Maryinka, registering their first major success since the capture of the strategic city of Bakhmut in May.
Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Monday about the capture of what has now become a ghost town just southwest of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk during a video exchange shared by a Kremlin journalist.
“I want to congratulate you. This is a success,” Putin is seen telling Shoigu in the video, saying it gives Russian troops “the opportunity to move into a wider operational area”.
Piles of rubble and gutted apartment buildings could be seen in drone images shown on Russian television that were said to be of Maryinka, which was once home to 10,000 people.
Putin had offered to award soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the battle for Maryinka, The Moscow Times reported.
