Ukrainian forces have publicly refuted Russian claims of capturing Ternovate on the Zaporizhzhia axis.
The settlement of Ternovate in the Zaporizhzhia region has been cleared of Russian troopd and is under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, posted a video showing Ukrainian soldiers at the settlement’s sign.
The troops are holding a Ukrainian flag and say Russian propaganda claims about capturing the settlement are false.
“We are in Ternovate and doing our job. Ternovate is ours, Ukrainian,” one soldier says.
Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces confirmed they have established full control over Ternuvate in the Zaporizhzhia region and raised the national flag over the settlement. They posted a video showing the flag.
The Ukrainian military said Russian units sometimes post footage of so-called “hour-long victories” or familiar “flag-planting” stunts—claiming that happened in Ternuvate as well. “Our military refutes this information. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are in Ternuvate, doing their job. Ternuvate is ours, Ukrainian!” the statement reads.
The military also urged Russian soldiers to surrender, emphasizing Ukraine’s control of the settlement.
In January, Russian sources circulated reports claiming to have occupied Ternovate, but Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces denied the claims.
Ukraine’s military leadership noted the settlement is located about 15 kilometers from the line of contact. Soldiers said a group of Russian saboteurs entered the settlement, taking advantage of difficult weather conditions.
The Russians documented its brief presence with drones, filming shots of flags being unfurled at select points in the settlement. Russian propaganda then used the footage to claim the settlement had been “taken.”
Ukraine’s Defense Forces responded quickly to the incursion. Within an hour of the saboteurs’ appearance, Ukrainian troops carried out reconnaissance and sweep operations in the settlement.
As a result, part of the sabotage group was eliminated and the rest were taken prisoner.
