Growing Number Of Donetsk Villages Retaken By Ukrainians

Ukrainian forces in Donetsk are adding to the number of villages and settlements they have retaken in that crucial region, as the Russians overextension north of Pokrovsk has weakened their capabilities in other areas, creating offensive opportunities for the Ukrainians. JL

Mykhailo Liuksikov reports in Militarnyi:

Ukrainian forces have successfully counterattacked and cleared the villages of Mykhailivka, Zeleny Hay and Volodymyrivka in the Donetsk region. A special unit of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (DIU), together with the 3rd Army Corps, has returned the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region under Ukraine’s control. Ukrainian forces also liberated part of the settlement of Tovste. The attacks caught Russian forces by surprise. The enemy reportedly has lost a company of troops and was forced to redeploy reserves from other parts of the front.

Ukrainian forces have successfully counterattacked and cleared the villages of Mykhailivka, Zeleny Hay and Volodymyrivka in the Donetsk region, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated during a visit to the Pokrovsk sector.

“Once again, I express my deep gratitude to my combat brothers and sisters for their service in these great, decisive days,” Syrskyi said.

He did not specify which units carried out the counterattacks but said he visited the 25th Airborne, 68th Jaeger, 32nd and 155th Mechanized Brigades.

 

Militarnyi reported the liberation of Zeleny Hay earlier, with the operation carried out in the area of responsibility of the 20th Army Corps.

Volodymyrivka, Zeleny Hay and Mykhailivka on the map of combat operations. Photo credits: map.ukrdailyupdate.com

The Ukrainian Navy specified that troops from the 1st Marine Battalion of the 37th Marine Brigade took part in the operation alongside other units and the 214th Assault Battalion OPFOR.

The de-occupation of Volodymyrivka and Mykhailivka was disclosed for the first time by Syrskyi, however details have not yet been released.

Moreover, over the past week, Ukrainian forces also liberated part of the settlement of Tovste, pushing Russian troops out.

Tovste village on the Deepstate combat map as of August 21, 2025. Photo credits: Deepstate

In addition, in the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, Ukrainian troops prevented Russian forces from consolidating their position in the village of Oleksandrohrad.

Oleksandrohrad on the Deepstate map as of August 18, 2025. Photo credits: Deepstate

The 141st Mechanized Brigade said Russian troops had sent a group into the settlement to stage the raising of a flag on a drone camera.

The Ukrainian assault group, operating with reconnaissance drone support, managed to expel the Russian forces.A special unit of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (DIU), together with the 3rd Army Corps, has returned the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region under Ukraine’s control.

The operation was conducted by the DIU’s Department of Active Operations, including the Artan unit, and the 2nd Assault Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade, according to statements from both the DIU and the 3rd Army Corps.

Intercepted communications suggested the attack caught Russian forces by surprise. The enemy reportedly lost about a company of troops and was forced to redeploy reserves from other parts of the front.

“Thanks to the coordinated work of intelligence, assault units, heavy equipment and UAVs, Ukrainian forces improved their tactical position and strengthened the defense of this sector,” the DIU said.

As of now, Novomykhailivka has been cleared of Russian troops and is fully under Ukrainian control.

“Our flags are returning to where they should be,” the Ukrainian units said in a statement.

The liberation of the settlement took place the previous day.

Novomykhailivka on the frontline map. Photo credits: X/NOELreports

The village is located in the Lyman sector.

“In the Lyman direction, the invading army attacked ten times near the settlements of Hrekivka, Ridkodub, Karpivka and towards Dronivka, Shandryholove, Serebryanka. Three clashes are still ongoing,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported at 16:00.

Situation in the Lymansky direction on August 24, 2025. Map: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Earlier in the morning, the General Staff said Russian forces had carried out 20 attacks in the Lyman sector, showing that Moscow has not abandoned its plans in this area.

“They tried to penetrate our defenses in the areas of Hrekivka, Ridkodub, Karpivka, Kolodyazhi, Myrne and towards Shandryholove, Dronivka, Serebryanka,” the General Staff said in its 8:00 update.