Marochko reported that the Russian Armed Forces had secured a wide area along Oskol

The Russian Armed Forces (AF) have secured an 8-km-wide area along the Oskol River in the Kupyansk direction. This was reported by retired Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Marochko on December 17.

"After the advance of our troops west of Masyutovka (a village in Kharkiv region. - Ed.), the advanced units managed to gain a foothold on a wide section of the front along the Oskol River - about 8 km," he wrote in his Telegram channel.

Marochko also added that after demining the coastal zone, Russian servicemen created long-term firing points and observation posts. The fighters have also built up forces, means and created stable logistical supply chains in many areas.

"It should be noted that our troops currently have the ability to quickly force a water barrier - the Oskol River - from Gryanikovka to northwest of Sinkovka. Collectively, this is about 20 kilometers of coastline," the retired lieutenant colonel concluded.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the military of the Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Southern Group of Forces broke through the defenses of Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) fighters at one of the frontline sites in the settlement of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). The ministry noted that the Russian Armed Forces fighters continue to liberate the town despite the AFU's attempts to launch counterattacks.

On the eve, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that fighters of the Russian Armed Forces in 2024 liberated almost 4.5 thousand square kilometers of territories occupied by the enemy. However, Ukrainian militants still control less than 1% of the territories of the LNR and 25-30% of the territories of the DNR, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions. He also noted that the Russian Armed Forces have a firm grip on the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 2024 was a landmark year in the issue of achieving the goals of the special operation. He also emphasized that Russian troops firmly own the strategic initiative on the entire line of contact

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian president on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.

For more current video and details on the situation in Donbas, see Izvestiya TV channel.