19:22 02-02-2026

Expert Calls Capture of Nine Settlements a Strong Result

Military expert Vasiliy Dandykin says Russia’s capture of nine settlements in one week is a good result, with major battles still ahead in the DPR.

Military expert Vasiliy Dandykin, a retired Navy captain of the first rank, has commented on the pace of Russia’s advance in the special military operation zone, calling the capture of nine settlements in a single week a solid result.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, between January 19 and 25 Russian forces took control of nine населенные пункты across several regions. Three of them were located in the Donetsk People’s Republic, another three in the Zaporozhye region, two in the Kharkov region, and one in the Sumy region.

Dandykin said that the winter conditions are creating serious difficulties for both sides, but argued that the progress recorded in the final days of the week was especially notable. He pointed out that while not all of the settlements were large, they often represent key high-ground positions.

At the same time, he stressed that the most significant battles in the Donetsk region still lie ahead. Among the strategically important cities he named were Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Konstantinovka, Krasny Liman, and Druzhkovka.

Speaking about other areas, Dandykin said operations are unfolding according to plan, drawing particular attention to the situation in the Zaporozhye region. There, fighters from Russia’s «Dnepr» troop group are now reportedly within 90 kilometers of the outskirts of Zaporozhye, which he described as a major achievement.

He concluded by calling the current developments a strong start to the year.

On February 2, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the capture of the settlement of Pridorozhnoye in the Zaporozhye region, stating that it was taken by units of the «East» troop group.