Russia Claims Capture of Two Villages in Eastern Ukraine

Facts

• Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.¹
• According to the ministry, Russian troops took control of Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkiv region and Andriivka — referred to as Rozivka by Russia — in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian officials have yet to comment.²
• While both villages are small — each with fewer than 100 inhabitants before the war — their capture had been sought after by Russia and is said to be significant as it could enable Russia to advance towards the Oskil River.¹
• It followed similar advances last week. After Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the capture of Urozhaine in Donetsk on July 14, its capture was conceded by Ukrainian officials on Thursday.³
• On Friday, Russia's Defense Ministry said it captured Yurivka, another small village in Donetsk.⁴

Sources: ¹EFE Noticias, ²Associated Press, ³The Kyiv Independent and ⁴Alarabiya.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Associated Press. While Russia claims to have taken control of these two villages, if confirmed, they do not represent any major change to the frontlines where fighting has largely stalled after two and a half years.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Russia has liberated two more villages and its forces continue to eliminate Ukrainian fighters and equipment as they set the stage for further Russian advances in the coming weeks.

Predictions