Russian troops from the «Southern» military group have taken control of the settlement of Dronovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The report was delivered to Defense Minister Andrey Belousov by the group’s commander, Colonel General Alexander Sanchik, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The ministry stated that the operation was carried out successfully thanks to the coordinated and professional actions of the personnel. Within a day, Russian forces established full control over the area, which had previously been held by Ukrainian units.

During a field visit, Minister Belousov inspected a forward command post of one of the «Southern» group’s formations. He received briefings from staff officers on the current situation and enemy activity in the sector and assessed the efficiency of command operations on the front line.

Military analyst Vasily Dandykin noted that if the current pace of the offensive continues, Russia’s armed forces could complete the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic by the spring of 2026. He added that the authorities in Kiev are now faced with a choice: to accept Moscow’s terms and withdraw their troops from the region or face further advances by Russian forces.