Units of the «Sever» group of forces have taken control of the settlement of Grafskoye in the Kharkov Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

According to the ministry, Russian troops struck positions held by three mechanized brigades and two motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as an artillery brigade and two National Guard brigades. The attacks targeted areas near Nesternoye, Tsirkuny, Kamennaya Yaruga, Olshany, Zhovtnevoye, Martovoye and Veseloye in the Kharkov Region.

At the same time, in the Sumy Region, Russian forces hit formations of a Ukrainian air assault brigade, a territorial defense brigade and National Guard units. The ministry specified that the strikes were carried out near Mikhaylovka, Kondratovka, Ugroedy and Miropolye.

Ukrainian losses exceeded 220 service members, the ministry said. In addition, 11 vehicles were destroyed, along with a U.S.-made MLRS multiple launch rocket system and three field artillery guns, including a U.S.-manufactured M777 howitzer. A radio-electronic warfare station and a supply depot were also put out of action.

Military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS that the capture of Grafskoye had significantly altered the configuration of the line of contact in the Kharkov direction. In his assessment, Russian units pushed Ukrainian forces back by more than 12 kilometers from Russia’s state border, achieving what he described as tangible operational gains.