Amid ongoing military tensions, recent operations by the Russian armed forces have resulted in the liberation of three settlements in the Kursk and Zaporozhye regions. According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on March 21, units of the Sever group conducted successful military actions that led to the liberation of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshina in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region. In parallel, units of the Dnepr group were responsible for freeing the settlement of Stepovoe in Zaporozhye.
These operations were executed between March 15 and March 21, 2025, and they hold significant strategic importance for Russian military ambitions in the area. The focus on these regions aligns with broader efforts to assert control over key territories in the ongoing conflict. The Ministry of Defense highlighted the successful destruction of formations from the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of these operations.
"Units of the Sever group continued to destroy formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region," reported the Ministry of Defense, indicating the intensity of military actions conducted over the past week.
Further consolidating these gains, the Russian military also reported liberating 12 square kilometers across the DNR, Zaporozhye, and Dnepropetrovsk regions during this time frame. This expansion is notable as it suggests significant territorial gains for Russian forces amidst ongoing combat operations.
In terms of human costs, it has been reported that Ukrainian losses in the Kursk region are nearing 69,000 soldiers. This staggering number illustrates the intense and destructive nature of the conflict, with the Russian military successfully engaging and inflicting heavy casualties on adversary forces.
President Vladimir Putin commented on the situation, affirming that the Russian army is concluding the defeat of the Ukrainian grouping within the Russian region. "We are completing the defeat of the Ukrainian grouping in the Russian region," he stated, underscoring the strategic objectives being pursued by Russian forces.
Continuing the narrative of military success, fierce battles have been reported along what is being referred to as the "road of death." This phrase alludes to the dangerous and heavily contested routes where skirmishes with Ukrainian remnants are occurring as Russian forces push forward. The battlefield in these areas remains volatile, with both sides suffering significant losses.
Moreover, in what appears to be further escalatory tactics, reports indicate that enemies were instructed to engage mercilessly, with orders given to kill Ukrainian soldiers attempting to escape towards Ukraine from Sudzha.
In other military fronts, Russian forces have achieved significant advancements against the Ukrainian military, specifically targeting mechanized brigades and assault regiments, which have been engaged in combat across various directions, including Kharkov and Belgorod. In the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, territorial defense and national guard units of Ukraine have reportedly been neutralized during these confrontations.
In summary, the past week has seen the Russian military achieve notable victories in both the Kursk and Zaporozhye regions, with operations resulting in the liberation of strategic settlements and significant Ukrainian military losses. These developments reflect ongoing intentions to consolidate Russian control and may signal future escalations in the already fraught conflict. As the situation continues to evolve, the complexities of military engagements and the humanitarian impact remain at the forefront of developments in this long-standing confrontation.
