The Ukrainian military said it recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms from Russia in the Black Sea and claimed gains in occupied areas near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine left in ruins after long and deadly fighting.

The recapture of the Boyko Towers platforms provides an energy source and takes back an asset that Russia seized in 2015 and used to launch helicopters. “Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea,” the Main Intelligence Directorate said.