Ukraine War Map Shows Kyiv Regain Trenches Around New York

Ukrainian forces have reportedly taken control of Russian trenches in a town near Bakhmut in Donetsk oblast named after New York.

The X account War Mapper, which provides updates of the conflict in Ukraine, posted a graphic on Tuesday that showed Kyiv's progress on part of the front line. "[Ukraine] has taken control of a line of Russian trenches on the pre-2022 frontline between Niu-York and Horlivka. This is 3km [two miles] south of the previous crossing into the pre-2022 occupied areas," said the post.

The urban settlement by the city of Toretsk was known as Novhorodske first appeared on maps in 1846. Its link to the much bigger U.S. namesake is unclear, with one explanation being that it had come from a dignitary or entrepreneur who had settled from the U.S.

Other theories are that the name refers to the city of Jork, in present-day Germany, where Mennonite settlers may have come from, or it may have been a joke.

The civil-military administration of Donetsk region requested its name be changed to the American version. this was accepted by a Ukrainian parliamentary committee on February 3, 2021 and officially renamed on July 1 that year.

Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, many residents were evacuated and it has been hit by Russian missiles and air-dropped bombs, including strikes on a factory that produces phenol.

Despite the reported Ukrainian gains in the area, a map by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Monday showed Russian advances nearby, including along the highway towards Ivanivske, west of Kreminna and east of Yampolivka.

Meanwhile, Russian milbloggers have said that Moscow's troops have captured the town of Tabaivka, southeast of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, although this has been disputed by Ukraine, which has insisted fighting is ongoing.

The ISW also said that Russian forces had made marginal advances on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka in the Donetsk oblast, which has been the scene of a fierce fight following the start of Moscow's offensive there in October.

It comes as Ukrainian authorities reported another overnight Russian drone barrage on Monday that damaged an electrical substation in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and caused a blackout in a Chernihiv Oblast community.

Ukraine's Air Force said it downed 15 out of the 35 Shahed-type drones launched by Moscow on energy infrastructure, civilian and military facilities near the front line and the Russian border.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.