Russian forces have taken control of Verovka in the Kharkov Region and Stenki in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

Verovka was secured by units of the Sever Group of Forces. Over the past week, its troops struck formations from five mechanized brigades, one motorized infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, an assault regiment and five territorial defense brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian formations lost up to 1,495 servicemen in the Sever Group’s area of operations during that period. Russian forces also destroyed 16 armored combat vehicles, 72 other vehicles, nine artillery pieces and four electronic warfare and counter-battery stations.

Verovka is a small settlement in the Volchansk District with a pre-conflict population of about 30 people. It lies roughly seven kilometers from Yurchenkovo, which the ministry reported captured a day earlier, and 6.5 kilometers east of Bely Kolodez.

Stenki was taken by units of the Yug Group of Forces. During the week, Russian troops attacked positions held by seven mechanized brigades, one motorized infantry brigade, two airmobile brigades, one mountain assault brigade, two marine brigades and two territorial defense brigades.

Ukrainian losses in this sector exceeded 1,290 servicemen. The ministry also reported the destruction of 26 armored combat vehicles, 176 other vehicles and 11 field artillery guns.

Stenki is located in the Konstantinovka District and had a pre-conflict population of around 260. The settlement lies approximately five kilometers northeast of Konstantinovka, which the Russian Defense Ministry reported captured on July 3.

Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots said the capture of Verovka had allowed Russian forces to close a ring around Bely Kolodez and cut off the Ukrainian garrison’s eastern withdrawal route toward Prikolotnoye.

He also said Russian troops had severed the T2104 highway linking Kharkov, Volchansk, Bely Kolodez and Prikolotnoye. The road plays an important role in supplying Ukrainian units operating east of Volchansk.

Assessing the fighting near Stenki, Kots said the Yug Group continued clearing the area surrounding Konstantinovka. In his view, the operation is intended to secure the flanks of Russian units advancing along the H20 highway toward Druzhkovka. He identified Popasnoye and Verolyubovka as the nearest objectives.

Kots argued that control of Druzhkovka would give Russian forces a direct route toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban area, where Ukrainian command centers and rear facilities are located. In his assessment, its capture by the Russian army would effectively mark the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the battle for Donbass.