Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov has inspected the «Center» group of forces, using the visit to outline recent battlefield developments. During the review, he stated that in recent weeks Russian troops had taken control of several key settlements in the special military operation zone.

According to the information presented by Gerasimov, units from the «North» group of forces pushed Ukrainian formations out of Sidorovka and Popovka in Sumskaya Oblast, and also secured Chugunovka in Kharkovskaya Oblast. He said the «North» formation continues to expand what he described as a security buffer in border areas of Sumskaya and Kharkovskaya oblasts.

Gerasimov also reported advances in Zaporozhskaya Oblast. Fighters from the «Dnepr» group of forces established control over Primorskoye, Magdalinovka and Zapasnoye, and, according to the General Staff chief, are continuing to move toward Zaporozhye.

Meanwhile, the «Vostok» grouping took four additional settlements in the same region: Tsvetkovoye, Pridorozhnoye, Staroukrainka and Zheleznichnoye.

On the Krasnolimansk direction, Gerasimov indicated that operations were nearing completion to clear Drobyshevo and Yarovaya of Ukrainian forces. He added that units of the Second Army had occupied Rovnoye, Rog and Gnatovka, settlements adjacent to Pokrovsk.

Inside Pokrovsk itself, Russian servicemen are inspecting residential districts and assisting civilians. More than 200 people have been evacuated from the city to safer areas.

The army general further stated that Russian forces are continuing efforts to eliminate Ukrainian formations encircled in Mirnograd. Overall, Gerasimov stressed that the combined Russian grouping is maintaining offensive operations along nearly all axes in the special military operation zone.