In a significant development, Russian troops have captured the village of Urozhaine, according to an announcement by the Kremlin on Sunday. The village, located in the south of the eastern Donetsk region near the border with Zaporizhzhia, had previously been under the control of Kyiv after it was retaken in the summer of 2023.

Russia's Defense Ministry stated that their troops have now seized Urozhaine and are currently involved in clearing and demining operations in the area. Urozhaine, along with the neighboring village of Staromaiorske, has been a site of fierce clashes in the region.

Ukraine's efforts to reclaim Urozhaine and Staromaiorske were part of a counteroffensive that began later than intended in the summer of 2023. The counteroffensive had resulted in limited gains for Kyiv. However, the delayed delivery of weapons to Ukrainian troops allowed Russia ample time to prepare their defenses and heavily mine the territory.

Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia grouping of forces in the east, mentioned that the situation around Urozhaine is currently tense, with ongoing "real battles" taking place. Voloshyn acknowledged that Russian attacks in the area have intensified in recent days.

Ukraine's military reported that Russia carried out 18 attacks in the past day on the front line section that includes Urozhaine. However, they did not confirm if Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from the settlement.

Despite difficulties in independently verifying battlefield reports, it was reported by Deep State, a Ukrainian war blog, that Russian forces launched a "massive assault" on the northern part of Urozhaine on Saturday, ultimately leading to their control over the village. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank, also confirmed the advancement of Russian troops into the northern part of the settlement through geolocated footage.

Furthermore, Russia's incremental gains along the frontlines have been keeping pressure on Ukraine's eastern front lines, while also launching attacks into the country's northeast. In early May, Russia initiated a cross-border offensive into Ukraine's Kharkiv region and claimed several border settlements. Despite this, Kyiv has been vigilant, warning that Moscow aims to strain Ukrainian resources in the east.

Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces have managed to roll back Russian control around a settlement north of Kharkiv City, as well as make advances around the city of Kupiansk and northwest of Svatove, a Luhansk city under Russian control. Russian forces have also advanced near the Donetsk city of Toretsk, as well as northwest of Avdiivka, which was seized by Moscow in February.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to unfold, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with both sides engaged in intense battles for territorial control. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and hopes for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.