Residents greeted Ukrainian troops during liberation of Blahodatne, Ukrainian military says
Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian flag in Blagodatny, June 11, 2023 (Photo:68th Separate Hunting Brigade Oleksy Dovbusha/Handout via REUTERS)
Valeriy Shershen, a spokesman for the joint press center of the Tauride Defense Forces, told RadioNV on June 11 about the liberation of Blahodatne from the Russian occupation troops.
"The village of Blahodatne was liberated by the soldiers of the 68th separate Oleksa Dovbush Ranger Brigade during an offensive in cooperation with neighboring units of the Tauride Defense Forces," Shershen said.
“The very first assault group aimed at seizing the village club, where the enemy had well-equipped and fortified positions. It included the deputy commander of the brigade.”
The representative of the Defense Forces noted that the enemy troops " resisted fiercely."
He also said that during the liberation of Blahodatne, Russian soldiers and militants from the "DPR Ministry of Internal Affairs" were captured.
“(The locals) were waiting for liberation of the ruined village," said Shershen.
“After the fighting stopped, people came out of their cellars and greeted their liberators. It was a very touching moment that inspires and creates motivation to move forward. This is literally the direct speech of our fighters who liberated this village. The Ukrainian flag over the village club was installed by a fighter with the callsign Olympus. ... The enemy has significant losses in the area of Blahodatne and further forward.”
In addition to the Russian military and "LPR" militants, the occupied territories in this area are being defended from Ukraine's offensive by Storm-Z units recruited from former prisoners, Shershen noted.
Earlier on national television, the spokesman reported that during the de-occupation operation in Blahodatne, six Russian soldiers were captured.
"The invaders resisted to the last," Shershen said.
“Our soldiers used some ingenuity, made a hole in the wall of the club with a grenade launcher, entered through it, and then began to clear it. We surrounded several enemies, suggested they surrender, but they refused. The school was liberated at the same time.”
Blahodatne's liberation was reported on June 11.
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