Ukrainian army claims to have breached one of the toughest Russian defense lines in the south of the country

(Patria) - Ukrainian forces believe they have breached the toughest Russian defense line in the south, which will ensure faster progress, a commander fighting in the south of the country told Reuters today.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, but well-prepared Russian defense lines fortified with minefields have slowed their advance south towards the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian forces announced on Wednesday that they had raised the national flag in the village of Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, about 10 kilometers south of the front-line town of Orikhiv.

- We are not stopping here. The next is (the city of) Berdiansk, and then we move on.

I immediately made it clear to my fighters - our goal is not Robotyne, our goal is (the Sea of Azov) - the commander, who led some of the troops into Robotyne and uses the call sign Kombat, told Reuters.

Robotyne is about 100 kilometers from Berdiansk, a port on the coast of the Sea of Azov, and 85 kilometers from the strategic city of Melitopol.

Both were occupied by Russian forces after Moscow's full-scale invasion last February. Moscow has not confirmed that Ukraine has advanced into Robotyne, reports RSE.

Defending Ukraine's strategy this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed suggestions that his country's troops were widely deployed and reiterated his belief that Kyiv would reclaim all Ukrainian territory occupied by Moscow.

- We have passed the main roads that are mined. We are reaching the lines where we can go (forward). I am sure we will go faster from here - said Kombat.

He stated that two houses are still under Russian control in the village of Robotyne:

"We are fighting to capture them, and then we will have full control (of Robotyne)".

Kombat added that Ukrainian troops have now entered territories where there were only groups of "Russian logistics" and where he clearly stated that he did not expect the Russian defense to be so difficult to break through.

- We are going to liberate all our territories - added Kombat.