Units of the “North” grouping of forces, advancing deep into enemy territory, liberated the settlements of Loshakovo and Komissarovo in Kharkiv Region. At the same time the “Center” grouping liberated the settlements of Maryevka and Gulevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and “East” took control of Zelenaya Dibrova in Zaporizhzhia Region. This was reported in a briefing by the Ministry of Defense.

Loshakovo is a village in the Reznikovsky rural council of Volchansk District, Kharkiv Region, with a pre-war population of about 15 people. It is located near the border with Volokonovsky District of Belgorod Region and adjoins Chernyakov from the south; the Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of Chernyakov on 13 September. Loshakovo was liberated by assault troops of the 344th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motor Rifle Division of the 6th Guards Combined Arms Army.

Komissarovo is a village in the Olkhovatka rural community of Kupyansk District, Kharkiv Region, with a pre-war population of about 80 people. It is located 3 kilometers north of Ustinovka, whose liberation the Ministry of Defense reported on 3 August. Komissarovo was taken by fighters of the 34th Guards Separate Motor Rifle Brigade. They were opposed by units of the 1st Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The liberation of both settlements fits a single tactical design. They lie 4 kilometers apart on the eastern “wall” of a large pocket in the northeast of Kharkiv Region. If Khizhnyakovo, which lies between them, is taken, a mini-encirclement will form to the east, trapping the villages of Potikhonovo, Rublenoye, Kreidyanka and Ozernoye. Clearly the command of the “North” grouping has chosen to destroy the pocket in parts. According to the Ministry of Defense, up to 1,700 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel are trapped in it.

Gulevo is a village in Dobropolye District of the former Donetsk Region, with a pre-war population of about 115 people. It stands on the bank of the Grishinka River, 6 kilometers northwest of Grishino (whose liberation the Ministry of Defense reported on 21 April), 11 kilometers southwest of Dobropolye still held by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and 10 kilometers east of the border with Dnipropetrovsk Region. While advancing on Dobropolye, the “Center” grouping is simultaneously clearing the western districts of the DPR of the enemy. When this work is finished, forces will be freed for an offensive on the Kramatorsk–Sloviansk agglomeration from the west.

Maryevka is a village in Dobropolye District of the former Donetsk Region, with a pre-war population of about 50 people. It stands on the bank of the Samara River by highway T0514, which links Dobropolye with Kramatorsk, 5 kilometers southwest of the urban-type settlement Zolotoy Kolodez, whose liberation the Ministry of Defense reported on 18 September. The liberation of Maryevka expands the Russian zone of control on the right flank of the Dobropolye axis. In addition, the “Center” grouping now controls highway T0514. This means that overland communication between Kramatorsk and Dobropolye has been disrupted.

Zelenaya Dibrova is a village in the Tersyansky rural council of Novomykolaivka District, Zaporizhzhia Region, with a pre-war population of about 100 people. It adjoins Rozovka from the west; the Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of Rozovka on 17 September. Zelenaya Dibrova was taken by fighters of the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army. In the fighting they destroyed up to a company of personnel, 5 armored combat vehicles, 17 automobiles, 10 pieces of motorcycle equipment, 14 NRTC systems and more than 30 heavy hexacopters.

The “East” grouping continues to expand its zone of control east of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River. The nearest objective on this sector of the front is the village of Barvinovka, an important Ukrainian Armed Forces transshipment point on highway T0408 linking Novomykolaivka with Omelnyk and Orikhiv.

@sashakots