The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that Russian forces had liberated the town of Pobeda and improved their positions on the Donetsk axis, with Kiev’s losses over the week amounting to 2,560 soldiers, 12 tanks, and 12 repelled attacks.
The ministry’s weekly report on the progress of the special military operation stated, “On the Donetsk axis, units of the Russian Southern Grouping of Forces liberated the town of Pobeda and improved their positions. They also targeted personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian forces in the areas of the towns of Bologorovka, Gigirovka, Krasnoye, Klishchiivka, Kordyumovka, Razdolovka, Novomikhailovka, Nevilskoye, and Krasnogorovka, in the Donetsk People’s Republic.”
The report added, “The enemy’s losses amounted to over 2,560 soldiers, 12 tanks, 31 armored vehicles, 58 vehicles, 13 field guns, and a Grad rocket system.”
Since February 24, 2022, the Russian Armed Forces have been conducting their special military operation with the aim of disarming Ukraine, eliminating threats posed to Russia’s security through Ukraine, and protecting civilians in the Donbas region who have been persecuted for 8 years by the Kyiv regime.
Recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a variety of strategic and geopolitical shifts. After facing setbacks in the second half of 2022 with Ukrainian counter-attacks, Russia made small but steady advances in eastern Ukraine as the conflict reached its first anniversary. Early in the invasion, Russia failed to capture Kyiv and committed atrocities in regions such as Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv, most notably in Bucha. Following these events, Russia shifted its focus to “liberating” Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, making slow, steady gains despite heavy tolls on both sides. Notable moments for Ukraine included striking Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva and launching successful counter-offensives, particularly around Kherson, which led to the recapture of the city from Russian forces. Russia has since intensified missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages. Most recently, Russian forces, bolstered by fresh recruits and Wagner mercenaries, have focused on capturing the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk province, achieving some territorial gains.
On the diplomatic front, Russia has made several allegations against Ukraine and other countries. It accused Ukraine of manufacturing a “dirty bomb,” a claim that has been widely dismissed by Western countries and Ukrainian officials as an attempt to justify escalating hostilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found no evidence of undeclared nuclear activities in the sites it inspected in Ukraine. Russia has also accused the UK of being behind the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, though no evidence has been provided to support these claims, and the accusations have been met with skepticism from Western officials.