Ukraine Regains Control of Sviatohirsk, Donetsk Oblast, Officials Say

The town of Sviatohirsk, Donetsk Oblast, was recaptured by Ukrainian forces on September 12, officials said, as they continued to push out Russian troops from eastern Ukraine.

Footage posted by the National Guard of Ukraine shows soldier Vitaly Markiv in front of a building with signs reading “Public Reception Hall of the Sviatohirsk City Council” and “Sviatohirsk City Territorial Election Commission.”

“Units of the National Guard, Armed Forces of Ukraine and Territorial Defense have entered Sviatohirsk. Step by step, meter by meter, we are liberating our territory from the occupiers,” Markiv said according to a translation.

Sviatohirsk has been occupied by Russian forces, however the Sviatohirska Lavra, which is located on the other side of the Siversky Donets River, had been under the control of Ukrainian forces, according to local reports. Credit: National Guard of Ukraine via Storyful