Ukraine’s counteroffensive sees heavy fighting in Neskuchne village

In the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, the village of Neskuchne has experienced some of the heaviest fighting in the country’s ongoing counteroffensive against Russian forces. As one of the first media organisations to gain access to the recently liberated village cluster, the BBC reported that six Ukrainian soldiers were lost during the liberation of Neskuchne.

The village was first occupied by Russia in spring last year, shortly after President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Neskuchne, which ironically means “not boring” in Ukrainian, was previously occupied in 2014 by Russia-backed fighters. It was later regained by Ukraine, only to be seized again by Russian troops following last year’s invasion.

As the counteroffensive progresses, it becomes evident that this liberation differs from those witnessed last year. The absence of civilians and complex trench networks in Neskuchne paints a stark picture of the conflict’s impact on the area. Buildings riddled with bullet holes from close quarter fighting stand alongside the remnants of a destroyed pharmacy and food store.

The situation on the ground remains fluid, with Russian forces pushing back as recently as last night. Despite triumphant claims of liberation from Kyiv earlier this week, the reality is far more complex. The counteroffensive is still in its early stages, and any liberation will likely be far from immediate or complete.

Former residents of Neskuchne told the BBC that the village was also briefly occupied in 2014, when Russia-backed fighters seized large areas of land in the Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk regions. This followed Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula.

Earlier this week, a video emerged purportedly showing two Ukrainian soldiers raising the country’s blue-and-yellow national flag on destroyed buildings in Neskuchne. The loud booming sound of nearby shelling can also be heard.