Russian forces have taken control of two more settlements in the Kharkov Region as they continue operations around an encircled Ukrainian grouping. The Russian Defense Ministry identified the settlements as Dolgenkoye and Berezniki.

Troops from the Sever Group of Forces seized Dolgenkoye while expanding the outer perimeter around the surrounded Ukrainian formations. Berezniki was taken on the inner line of the encirclement, further reducing the territory still held inside the pocket.

Fighting is also continuing within the encircled area itself. Russian forces struck Ukrainian units near Malaya Volchya, Varvarovka, Buzovo and Nefedovka.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian losses on this sector over the past day reached up to 30 servicemen, one armored combat vehicle and two quad bikes. Three unmanned aerial vehicle control points were also destroyed. The ministry said Ukrainian troops attempted to break out of the encirclement, but all such efforts were stopped.

A day earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that around 1,700 Ukrainian servicemen had been encircled in the northern part of the Kharkov Region. The pocket covers 460 square kilometers and includes 27 settlements. Eliminating the surrounded grouping would allow Russian forces to push the line of contact at least 20 kilometers away from the border areas of the Belgorod Region.