Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the «Akhmat» special forces unit, stated that Russian troops have nearly completed the clearing of Ukrainian positions in the Serebryanskoye forestry area of the Lugansk People’s Republic.

He recalled that fighting in the forestry had continued since 2022. According to him, one of his units and other detachments of the Russian Ministry of Defense had been stationed there throughout this time, engaging Ukrainian forces on a daily basis. He explained that both sides had conducted counteroffensive operations, with control over sections of the area shifting back and forth due to varying circumstances. At present, he emphasized, Russian forces can confirm that the Serebryanskoye forestry is almost entirely under their control. Alaudinov added that Russian troops are still clearing several remaining positions and continue to advance further.

Earlier, on August 15, Russian security structures reported that several Ukrainian strongholds in the forestry had been eliminated. Two Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, saying that their command had deployed them to this difficult sector with only minimal supplies, no communications, and without electronic warfare equipment.