Ukraine claims it has retaken key village from Russians as counteroffensive grinds on

Ukrainian officials claimed on Wednesday that they have made another milestone in Kyiv's grinding counteroffensive, with Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar saying troops have retaken a village from the Russians in the eastern Donetsk region.

The village of Urozhaine is near Staromaiorske, a hamlet that Ukraine also claimed to have recaptured recently. The claims could not be independently verified.

Ukraine appears to be trying to drive a wedge between Russian forces in the south, but it is up against strong defensive lines and is advancing without air support.