Moscow, (EFE).- Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, announced on Friday that Russian forces had captured the Ukrainian stronghold of Dobropilia, located in the Donetsk region.
«The Central Group of Forces has liberated Dobropilia, one of the enemy’s key strongholds on the advance toward Dnipropetrovsk,» Gerasimov said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Gerasimov, the Russian Army has taken control of 92 localities in Ukraine since Sep. 1.
«Since Sep. 1, military formations and units have taken control of over 1,800 square kilometers (1,118 square miles) of territory and 92 localities,» Gerasimov told Putin.
He added that the armed forces’ efforts are focused on capturing the entire Donbas region.
Gerasimov stated that in September and the first two weeks of October approximately 500 square kilometers (310 square miles) and 23 towns in the Donetsk People’s Republic came under Russian control.
Russia announced the launch of a major offensive in Dobropillya in August, and since then, military reports have provided nearly daily updates on the fighting in the city, including the capture of dozens of buildings.
Putin celebrated the capture of Dobropillya and emphasized that controlling the entire territory of Donetsk is one of Russia’s key objectives.
«The liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic remains one of the key objectives on the ground. The capture of Dobropilia by the Central Group of Forces is a significant advance in the special military operation,” Putin said during the meeting held at a Russian forces command post. Other senior military commanders attended the meeting.
The Russian president emphasized that capturing Dobropilia opens “a direct route” to the Donetsk region’s borders.
According to the Kremlin, as of today, Russia still needs to capture 10% of Donetsk’s territory to extend its control over the entire region. EFE
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