MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated eight communities in the Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye Regions and the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units improved their forward positions and took control of the settlements of Palamarevka and Kovalevka in the Kharkov Region through active operations. <…> Battlegroup South units liberated the settlement of Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations," the ministry said in a statement.

"Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlements of Dobropolye, Pervomaiskoye and Sergeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active and decisive operations. <…> Battlegroup East forces kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Velikomikhailovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region. <…> Battlegroup Dnepr units liberated the settlement of Malokaterinovka in the Zaporozhye Region through decisive operations," the ministry reported.