Ukrainian Forces Retake Village of 'Urozhain' from Russia; Continued Russian Airstrikes on Odesa

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, announced on Wednesday, August 16, that Ukrainian forces successfully reclaimed the village of 'Urozhain' in the Donetsk region from Russia. According to Reuters, she wrote in a message on her Telegram page: 'Urozhain is liberated. Our defenders are stationed on the outskirts.' This village is part of a series of small rural settlements that Ukraine has liberated since early June when it launched an offensive against Russian forces. The recapture of this village indicates that Ukraine is advancing in its new assault towards the south and the Sea of Azov, aiming to divide Russian occupying forces in the region. The retaking of Urozhain brings Ukraine closer to the village of 'Staromlynivka', just a few kilometers to the south, which military analysts say is one of Russia's strongholds in the area. Reuters reported that Russia controls nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula, most of Luhansk region, and significant parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. On the other hand, the governor of the Odesa region on the Black Sea stated on Wednesday, August 16, that 'Russian airstrikes in southern Ukraine have damaged silos and grain storage facilities in one of the Danube River ports.' Oleg Kiper, the governor of Odesa, said on Telegram that 'Russian forces attacked the Odesa region twice last night with attack drones.' He also added, 'The main targets are port infrastructure and grain in the southern region.' Odesa, Ukraine's largest port and naval base, has been repeatedly targeted by missile and drone attacks following Russia's withdrawal from the grain export agreement from the ports of this country. Russian missile attacks on western and central Ukraine have left dozens dead and wounded. Three people were killed following a Russian airstrike in western Ukraine, and three others were injured in drone attacks on the port city of Odesa.