Marochko said the Russian Armed Forces had killed more than 20 Azov militants

The Russian Armed Forces destroyed three strongholds and over 20 militants of the Ukrainian nationalist regiment Azov (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) during the advance near the village of Kopanki in Kharkiv Region, the liberation of which became known on 26 November. This was reported by military expert Andrei Marochko on Friday, November 29.

"During the advance of our troops, a powerful strike was made on the flank of the Ukrainian grouping located near the locality of Kopanka. As a result of the fire attack, three strongholds were destroyed and more than 20 militants of the third separate assault brigade of the Azov armed formations of Ukraine were liquidated," the expert told TASS.

He also noted that the Russian Armed Forces had improved their positions and expanded their zone of control southwest of Kopanka by advancing and occupying more favorable lines.

Earlier, on September 6, officers of the Investigative Committee and the Russian FSSB in the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) detained a collaborator of the Ukrainian nationalist regiment Azov on charges of financing terrorism. The detainee admitted that he had been misled by messages in Ukrainian Telegram channels, which spoke about the alleged achievements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU).

The special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022, is ongoing. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.