MOSCOW, October 4. /TASS/. Russia’s Battlegroup North is fighting to liberate the settlements of Varvarovka, Nikolayevka, Lobanovka, and Reznikovo inside the encirclement in the Kharkov Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Units of Battlegroup North are tightening the encirclement around Ukrainian formations in the northeastern Kharkov Region and expanding the outer zone of control. Fighting is underway inside the encirclement to liberate the settlements of Varvarovka, Nikolayevka, Lobanovka, and Reznikovo in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.
The ministry added that Russian forces continue eliminating encircled enemy formations near Rublenoye, Nefedovka, Kupino, and Chernoye in the Kharkov Region.
At the same time, Russia’s Battlegroup North is fighting near Prikolotnoye and Annopolye in the Kharkov Region as it expands its outer zone of control. "As the outer zone of control is expanded, combat operations are underway near the settlements of Prikolotnoye and Annopolye in the Kharkov Region. Enemy forces in the settlements of Berezhnoye, Podsredneye, Kurgannoye, and Maly Burluk in the Kharkov Region are being hit by fire," the ministry said.
Units of Russia’s Battlegroup Center advanced in the northern and central parts of the city of Dobropolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day. "In the settlement of Dobropolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, assault groups of the 51st Army advanced in the northern and central parts of the city. Marine units completed clearing residential areas in the eastern parts of the city and continued their advance in its northern part," the ministry said.
The ministry added that 53 buildings were liberated in Dobropolye over the past day, with up to 20 Ukrainian troops eliminated.
Russian air defenses downed four aerial bombs, three HIMARS multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) projectiles, and 1,222 fixed-wing drones over the past day. "Air defense systems downed four guided aerial bombs, three US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system projectiles, and 1,222 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.
According to the Defense Ministry, a total of 674 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 252,053 unmanned aerial vehicles, 672 surface-to-air missile systems, 31,121 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,784 multiple launch rocket system combat vehicles, 36,624 field artillery guns and mortars, and 73,568 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation.