Russian forces have taken control of Krasny Yar and Potikhonovo in the Kharkov Region as the Sever Group of Forces continues to tighten the encirclement. At the same time, Russian units are advancing on the outer sector and expanding the territory under their control, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

Fighting is also continuing for Buzovo. Russian troops struck Ukrainian formations near Varvarovka and Grachevka, while an attempt by Ukrainian units to break out of the encirclement near Chernoye was thwarted. According to the ministry, the blocked Ukrainian forces lost more than 35 servicemen over the past day.

Russian units are also engaged in active combat operations near Petropavlovka, Lozovaya and Prikolotnoye as they widen the outer control zone.

The Defense Ministry put total Ukrainian losses in the Sever Group of Forces’ area of responsibility at up to 210 servicemen, one armored combat vehicle and 13 other vehicles.

Krasny Yar is located in the Reznikovsky Village Council of the Volchansky District, close to the border with the Volokonovsky District of the Belgorod Region. The village had a prewar population of about 25 people. It lies roughly three kilometers west of Chernyakov, whose liberation was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry on September 13. Krasny Yar was taken by assault units of the 344th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Guards Combined Arms Army.

Potikhonovo lies about seven kilometers southeast of Krasny Yar and belongs to the Olkhovatskaya rural community of the Kupyansk District. Its prewar population was about 27 people. The operation to take the village involved troops of the 34th Guards Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.

War correspondent Alexander Kots said the liberation of Krasny Yar creates conditions for encircling a major Ukrainian fortified area in Reznikovo. Taking Potikhonovo, he added, opens the way toward Kreidyanka. If that settlement is liberated, the Ukrainian-held villages of Artelnoye, Berezniki and Rublenoye would be trapped inside the encirclement.