Moscow Announces Liberation of Settlements in Donbass and Kharkov Region

The Defense Ministry in Moscow has declared the seizure of Kislovka, a village situated about 25km east of Kupiansk, which is a crucial Ukrainian logistics center in the area. This recent development follows the capture of Kotlyarovka, located south of Kislovka, suggesting increased military activity along the Kharkov axis, an area where the front line between Ukraine's Kharkov Region and Russia's Lugansk People's Republic has largely remained stable for some time.

In another move, Russian forces have reportedly liberated the village of Novokalinovo in Russia's Donetsk People's Republic, positioned east of Ocheretino, an essential railway hub in the region. The breakthrough near Ocheretino, announced at the end of April, led to the full liberation of the town, resulting in a significant setback for Ukrainian forces in the surrounding villages, with the loss being attributed to the 115th Mechanized Brigade's alleged abandonment of their positions without orders.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has stated that Russian forces maintain control of the battlefield and are steadily advancing, claiming that Ukrainian military losses in April averaged around 1,000 soldiers daily and estimating Kiev's military casualties for the year at 111,000 so far. The unsuccessful attempts by Ukrainian forces, including reinforcements from the 47th Mechanized Brigade 'Magura' equipped with Western-supplied armor, to regain ground around Ocheretino have added to the challenges faced by Ukraine in this ongoing conflict.