Second Battle of Robotyne

The second battle of Robotyne was a battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Robotyne, a village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Background
While Russian forces captured the village during initial stages of Russian Invasion of Ukraine, it only gained military construction of Russian defensive line called Surovikin line by the end of 2022, whose first layer was located around the village. It became focal point of 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive which concentrated large offensive efforts to secure the village. On 23 August 2023, Ukrainian forces managed to completely liberate the village. In the following months, Ukrainian forces managed to secure area around the village even entering nearby village of Verbove and breaking the secondary Russian defensive line. By the late 2023, Ukrainian momentum stalled and frontlines in the area eventually stabilised with Russian forces managing to perform some localised counterattacks.

Battle
On 17 February Russian forces started large-scale attack on Robotyne recapturing a position south of the village. Some Russian milblogers even claimed Russian forces advanced as far as western outskirts of the village. On February 19 Russia advanced in western outskirts of the village. On 24 February, Russian forces advanced into central parts of the village. By 27 February, Russian forces have driven Ukrainian forces out of vicinity of Verbove, beyond the first Russian defensive belt. In the following months, Russians forces systematically advanced inside and around the village. On 15 May 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that Russian forces fully recaptured the village, but several Russian sources, including the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment, claimed that Ukrainian forces still operate in northern parts of the village and that it is not clear if Russian forces consolidated eastern parts. On May 20, ISW observed that Russian forces marginally advanced in northernmost parts of the village, thus completely reclaiming it.

Aftermath
War analyst Emil Kastehelmi stated to The New York Times that the village now "lacks strategic importance to Russia and is now little more than ruins", but however, that would still "be a symbolic blow to Ukraine after fighting so hard to win it back last year".