Russian troops advance on key Donbass town – MOD
The Russian military has mounted a surprise attack on Ukrainian positions in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), capturing the village of Kirovsk, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Wednesday.
The Russian village, known in Ukraine as Zarechnoye, was turned into a major stronghold by Ukrainian forces with “every house and basement converted into well-fortified positions,” and the approaches to the villages densely mined, the ministry said in a statement.
Difficult terrain and Ukrainian forward positions along the Zherebets River, which covers Kirovsk from the east, further hampered the Russian advance.
The Ukrainian military gathered a sizable force in the immediate vicinity of Kirovsk, with up to 19 battalions involved in the defense of the stronghold, according to Russian estimates.
“Units with the troops grouping ‘West’ took advantage of the element of surprise and... immediately crossed the river and penetrated deep into the enemy’s defenses,” the ministry said, adding that the Russians have already reached the western outskirts of the village.
The troops are currently conducting search and destroy operations in the village, hunting down the remnants of Ukrainian units with the 63rd Mechanized Brigade, the ministry stated.
The liberation of Kirovsk paves the way to the town of Krasny Liman, a major logistics hub held by Ukrainian forces in the north of the DPR. The town is located around 8km west of Kirovsk. Krasny Liman was liberated by Russia early on in the conflict but was recaptured by Ukraine in late 2022.
