Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on September 17 that Russian forces had taken control of Rozovka in the Zaporozhye Region and Malaya Volchya in the Kharkov Region.

According to the ministry, Rozovka was taken by units of Russia’s Vostok group of forces, while troops from the Sever group established control over Malaya Volchya.

The Russian Defense Ministry also reported strikes on Ukrainian personnel near Khrypuny and Buzovo in the Kharkov Region. Russian military reports from the same sector had previously described fighting around Malaya Volchya and attacks on Ukrainian forces near Khrypuny and Buzovo.

According to the ministry’s account, Russian units prevented Ukrainian troops from breaking out of the so-called Volchansk pocket. Russian forces were said to be continuing to tighten the encirclement while expanding the outer area under their control in the Kharkov Region.

The Russian Defense Ministry put total Ukrainian military losses across all sectors of the operation over the previous 24 hours at approximately 1,260 personnel.