Ukraine said on Monday its troops had liberated the south-eastern settlement of Robotyne and were trying to advance further south in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, Reuters reports.

“Robotyne has been liberated,” the deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s military.

The military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in Robotyne, but also said at the time that they were still coming under fire in the settlement.

Ukraine reported its troops had entered the strategically important village on 22 August, signalling a potentially significant advance in its counteroffensive against Russia.

At the time, Maliar said Ukrainian soldiers were organising the evacuation of civilians, but were still coming under fire from Russian forces.