Second Battle of Robotyne

The second battle of Robotyne was a battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Robotyne, a village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Second Battle of Robotyne
Part of the Southern Ukraine campaign of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

View of Robotyne in April 2024
Date17 February – 20 May 2024
Location
Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine
47.26°N 35.49°E / 47.26; 35.49
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine

Background

While Russian forces captured the village during initial stages of Russian Invasion of Ukraine,[1] it only gained military construction of Russian defensive line called Surovikin line whose first layer was located around the village. It became focal point of 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive which concentrated large offensive efforts to secure the village.[2] On 23 August 2023, Ukrainian forces managed to completely liberate the village.[3] In the following months, Ukrainian forces managed to secure area around the village even entering nearby village of Verbove and breaking the secondary Russian defensive line.[4] By the late 2023, Ukrainian momentum stalled and frontlines in the area eventually stabilised with Russian forces managing to perform some localised counterattacks.

Battle

On 17 February Russian forces started large-scale attack on Robotyne recapturing a position south of the village.[5] Some Russian milblogers even claimed Russian forces advanced as far as western outskirts of the village. On February 19 Russia advanced in western outskirts of the village. On 24 February, Russian forces advanced into central parts of the village. By 27 February, Russian forces have driven Ukrainian forces out of vicinity of Verbove, beyond the first Russian defensive belt. In the following months, Russians forces systematically advanced inside and around the village. On 15 May 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that Russian forces fully recaptured the village,[6] but several Russian sources, including the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment, claimed that Ukrainian forces still operate in northern parts of the village and that it is not clear if Russian forces consolidated eastern parts. On May 20, ISW observed that Russian forces marginally advanced in northernmost parts of the village, thus completely reclaiming it.

Aftermath

War analyst Emil Kastehelmi stated to The New York Times that the village now "lacks strategic importance to Russia and is now little more than ruins", but however, that would still "be a symbolic blow to Ukraine after fighting so hard to win it back last year".[7]

References
  1. "Захоплення Запорізької АЕС, наступ на Пологівський район та обстріл Василівки: бойові дії у Запорізькій області | Перший Запорiзький". 1news.zp.ua. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  2. "Ukraine steps up counteroffensive with new push south and around Bakhmut | Ukraine | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  3. "Ukrainian Army's 47th brigade says Robotyne has been liberated". euronews. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  4. "FT: США умолчали об ATACMS Киеву, чтобы не предупреждать РФ – DW – 23.09.2023". dw.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  5. "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  6. Reporter, Isabel van Brugen (2024-05-15). "Zaporizhzhia Update: Russia claims it recaptured key outpost of Robotyne". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  7. Méheut, Constant (2024-05-23). "Advancing Russian Troops Threaten to Reverse Some of Ukraine's Hard-Won Gains". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
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