Key developments on July 27, 28:
- Russia reportedly captures Vovche, Ukrainian military doesn’t confirm
- Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says
- Ukraine’s military confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia’s Kursk region
- Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of Russian mercenaries
- Fire engulfs Donetsk mine with 86 miners inside, ministry says
Russian forces have captured the village of Vovche in Donetsk Oblast, the crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState reported on July 27, though the news has yet to be officially confirmed by Ukraine.
Moscow’s troops are attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses in the area, making the sector near Pokrovsk the hottest part of the front in recent weeks.
Speaking with Liga.net on July 26, the commander of the 47th Mechanized Brigade reported the capture of Vovche by Russian forces. However, Ukraine has not officially confirmed this incident.
In his daily address on July 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky focused on the fighting in the Pokrovsk sector, promising to strengthen Ukrainian positions against Russian attacks.
Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency executed attacks on three Russian airfields, damaging a Russian supersonic bomber plane, as reported by a source to the Kyiv Independent on July 27.
On the morning of July 27, Ukrainian drones targeted airfields in Saratov, Murmansk, and Ryazan regions, also hitting an oil refinery in Ryazan. The operation notably damaged a Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier at the Olenya airfield in Murmansk.
Ukraine’s success in targeting the Tu-22M3 marks a significant achievement after previously downing the same aircraft in April 2024 during ongoing hostilities of the conflict.
Ukraine's military confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia's Kursk region
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in collaboration with the Ukrainian military launched an attack on the Polyova oil depot in Russia’s Kursk region overnight on July 28, a confirmed report from the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Reports from Kursk indicated a drone attack causing fires across various locations including the oil depot, with explosions and fires impacting oil product containers.
Located in Russia, the Polyova oil depot plays a crucial role in supplying oil products to the Russian Armed Forces.
Fire engulfs Donetsk mine with 86 miners inside due to Russian shelling, ministry says
Reports from the Energy Ministry on July 27 confirmed that Russian shelling in Donetsk Oblast led to a fire in a mine with 86 miners trapped inside, all of whom were safely evacuated except for two who remained to ensure the mine’s operation.
Russia’s assault on energy infrastructure continues to impact regions like Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk, leaving thousands of households without power. The Energy Ministry noted a significant loss of energy capacity affecting Ukraine’s ability to provide stable electricity, especially considering potential blackouts during the coming winter.