Gerasimov: The Russian Armed Forces have liberated 17 settlements since the beginning of the year

Since the beginning of January, the Russian military has occupied 17 settlements and established control over an area of more than 500 square kilometers. This was announced on January 27 by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov following an inspection in the area of the Zapad group of forces.

"The North group of troops is fighting to expand the security zone in the border areas of Sumy and Kharkiv regions," Gerasimov added.

He specified that the North group occupied four settlements, including Semenovka and Staritsy. The troops of the "Southern" group are advancing towards Slavyansk, having established control over Bandarny, Zakotny and Privolny, and are also fighting for Konstantinovka. The Center group is reflecting the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the Dobropolsky direction, where street battles are taking place in Grishino, Novy Donbass and Belevskaya.

The Vostok group is advancing in the eastern part of the Zaporizhia region and creating a security zone in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Formations of the Dnepr group are advancing on Zaporizhia, their advanced units are located 12-14 km from the outskirts of the city.

According to Gerasimov, the Zapad group is also continuing its offensive: it is moving west in the direction of Lozovaya Pervaya, conducting street battles in Kutkovka and developing an offensive towards Kovalevka, while destroying the encircled enemy formations on the eastern bank of the Oskol River.

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The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, announced on January 18 that the Russian Armed Forces, having liberated the village of Zakotnoye in the republic, approached the city of Slavyansk, which remains about 30 km away. There is also about 16 km left to reach Krasny Estuary.

At the same time, the soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces told the details of the liberation of Zakotny in the DPR. The commander of the motorized rifle platoon of the 7th brigade of the South group of forces with the call sign Bugor noted that during one of the clashes the enemy was cut off from communication with the headquarters and had no information about the deployment and support of neighboring units. The neo-Nazis were caught off guard, he said.

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