Ukraine officially confirms liberation of Urozhaine, Shaheds over Reni Seaport. What happened on the front line on August 16?

Vostok, a “DPR” battalion, reports in its Telegram channel that after capturing Urozhaine, Ukrainian troops have set out toward Oktiabrske (renamed to Kermenchyk in 2016). The capture of this settlement will allow the Ukrainians to solve the problem of Novodonetske to the north without attacking it head-on.

Images of FAB-500 aerial bomb strikes on Urozhaine and the neighboring settlement of Staromaiorske have surfaced in Russian pro-war sources.

Russian pro-war blogger WarGonzo admits that the Ukrainian assault activity has placed the northern part of Robotyne to the south of Orikhiv in the gray zone. As geolocation suggests, the Ukrainians have almost entirely bypassed the settlement from the east. As WarGonzo reports, Ukrainian units have also launched an assault outside Verbove.

Meanwhile, pro-Russian Telegram channel Voyenny Osvedomitel (“Military Informer”) asserts that Robotyne “remains under the full control” of the Russians. As proof, he offers the photo of an 810th Marine Brigade serviceman “in the center of Robotyne” made on August 14. While the shot's geolocation indeed places the soldier in the center of the settlement, it can hardly be accepted as evidence of “full control”.

Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets reports the Ukrainians essentially breaching the defense line between Kopani and Robotyne, adding that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in this sector is far from “losing steam”.

Blogger and Ukrainian military officer Tatarigami points out that the capture of Robotyne might imply the subsequent need to storm Novoprokopivka and Solodka Balka. He published a video based on satellite images illustrating the evolution of Russian defenses in the vicinity of these settlements.

Russian pro-war channel Rybar reports the destruction of a Ukrainian bridgehead near Kozachi Laheri in Kherson Region. Despite the heavy artillery fire and shelling from the enemy, the Russian troops are said to have completely cleared the Dnipro's left bank from Ukrainian forces and have established control over the area.

Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi has visited Ukrainian positions in the Kupiansk sector. As per the general’s statement, Russian units, mostly made up of former prison inmates, are making daily attempts to breach Ukrainian defense on the approaches to Kupiansk. A Ukrainian military officer engaged in combat in the sector previously reported Russia’s use of Storm Z convict units, adding they are sustaining heavy losses when advancing.

Syrskyi also reported a regrouping of Russian troops in the Lyman sector, where they are staging a new offensive. In the Bakhmut sector, the Ukrainians are making slow progress despite the ongoing counterattacks by the enemy.

Shelling and sabotage

On the night of August 16, Russian UAVs attacked the Reni Seaport situated on the Danube's left bank not far from the Romanian border. As the Head of Ukraine's Presidential Administration Andrii Yermak reported, a suicide drone crashed into two metal hangars, setting them on fire. No one was injured. The town’s mayor Ihor Plekhov reports damage to the old grain elevator, some of the silo towers, and warehouses. According to him, a new grain warehouse that was about to be commissioned was also destroyed.