Russian Forces Liberate Settlement of Pobeda in Donetsk Region

Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Pobeda in the Donetsk area, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement.

"Battlegroup Yug have completely liberated the settlement of Pobeda in the Donetsk region," the MoD said in a statement.

❗️In the Avdeyevka area, Russian troops repelled nine attacks of the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 145 servicemen;

🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Defense Ministry briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ In…

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 22, 2024

Russian troops have also improved their frontline positions and hammered three Ukrainian military units in Novomikhailovka and Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.

Advancements Through the Donetsk Area

Ukraine has lost up to 410 soldiers near Donetsk over the past 24 hours, the MoD also noted.

"The losses of the Ukraine armed forces amounted to over 410 servicemen, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, five cars, Polish-made Krab and Bogdan self-propelled artillery units, a D-20 howitzer, as well as a Gvozdika self-propelled gun," the MoD said in a statement.

Russia repelled nine Ukrainian attacks by Ukraine in the Avdeyevka area, where Kiev lost up to 145 soldiers.

Watch servicemen of the 55th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade showing the path used by Russian storm groups to reach the center of Avdeyevka in order to defeat Ukrainian nationalists.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that "some of the fiercest fighting" was taking place near the… pic.twitter.com/JKlDfhzIJO

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 22, 2024

The Ukraine military has also lost up to 155 soldiers south of Donetsk in the past day, the MoD concluded.

Last week, Russian forces entered the heart of the hardened, heavily fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka, with the Defense Ministry announcing Sunday that Russian troops had advanced over 8.5 km deep into Ukrainian positions behind the front. The total area cleared out after fierce battles amounted to 31.75 square km, where Ukraine lost over 1,500 servicemen.

This month's liberation of Avdeyevka, along with Russian soldiers completely liberating Maryinka last December allowed to push back the Donetsk front lines, thus sthrengthening the city's protection against Ukrainian shells.

Battle for Donbass: What comes next?

Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley writes that although Avdeyavka represents a major victory, a big battle lies ahead for the full liberation of the Donbass.

The NATO-backed Ukrainian Army has been routed from Avdeyavka, but they… pic.twitter.com/7IzHfiD22S

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 21, 2024