Ukraine announced on Monday that it had recaptured a small town on the southern front, where its forces hope to boost confidence in the difficult ongoing counteroffensive against Russian lines that began in June. "Robotyne has been liberated. Our forces are advancing southeast of Robotyne and south of Mala Tokmachka," Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar told television. After amassing military supplies delivered by its Western partners, Ukraine launched its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian positions strengthened in recent months in June. Ukrainian authorities say their progress is slow but steady, and Russia says kyiv's counteroffensive is failing.