MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. The liberation of Vasilkovoye in the Zaporozhye Region has enabled the Russian army to envelop the Ukrainian combat group near Barvinovka from the flanks and cut off the enemy’s supply and reserves deployment routes, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.
The ministry reported earlier on November 9 that its Battlegroup East had liberated Vasilkovoye in the Zaporozhye Region over the past 24 hours.
"The liberation of Vasilkovoye has made it possible to envelop the Ukrainian combat group in the area of Barvinovka from the flanks, cut off the enemy’s supply routes and the paths for the arrival of its reserves, creating conditions for a further advance by assault teams of the Battlegroup East in that direction," the ministry said in a statement.
Vasilkovoye was liberated by assault teams of the 37th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the Battlegroup East’s 36th Combined Arms Army. In their assault, Battlegroup East forces overcame the Ukrainian army’s prepared defenses and established control over an area of 9.5 sq. km, the ministry reported.
The Ukrainian army lost over two platoons of manpower in the battle for Vasilkovoye. Russian forces also destroyed seven enemy armored combat vehicles, five motor vehicles, 22 ground robotic platforms and more than 60 heavy hexacopter drones, it specified.