MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Taking control of the settlement of Grafskoye in the Kharkov Region enables Russian troops to advance further south along the Seversky Donets River, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Establishing control over the settlement of Grafskoye in the Kharkov region creates the possibility for further advancement south along the Seversky Donets River," the ministry stated.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry reported that during active and decisive actions in the special military operation zone, servicemen of assault groups from the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of Battlegroup North secured control over Grafskoye.

The military clarified that artillery crews provided active fire support to the motorized rifle units, destroying Ukrainian armed forces firing positions and strongholds. Drone operators from the unmanned systems troops conducted round-the-clock aerial reconnaissance and targeted enemy personnel, equipment, and drone control points, preventing Ukrainian forces from performing rotations. The Defense Ministry emphasized that units of Battlegroup North, pushing back the enemy, are continuing their offensive and expanding security zones in the border areas of the Sumy and Kharkov Regions.