Russia’s Armed Forces have taken control of Shcherbakovka in the Kharkov region and Novoye Pole in the Zaporozhye region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s August 11 report on the course of the special military operation.

Shcherbakovka was taken by units of Russia’s Sever group of forces. The settlement lies near the border with the Belgorod region, southeast of Kazachya Lopan, close to the Moscow-Kharkov-Simferopol highway.

The Defense Ministry described the capture of Shcherbakovka as an important step in the fighting for Kazachya Lopan, which it identified as a major logistics hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The ministry also said control of the settlement had expanded the security zone along Russia’s state border.

Novoye Pole was taken by units of the Vostok group of forces. The small settlement is located near the border with the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The Russian Defense Ministry estimated Ukrainian losses over the previous 24 hours at more than 1,300 troops. Its report also listed one tank among the Ukrainian military equipment destroyed by Russian forces.