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According to preliminary field reports, Russian troops from the Vostok (East) grouping have liberated the settlement of Otradnoe following a swift and decisive assault. Soldiers of the 36th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade (29th Army) spearheaded the operation, raising Russian flags across the newly secured settlement. With this victory, Moscow’s forces have gained control over a critical 10-square-kilometer defensive zone, dealing a significant blow to Ukrainian positions in the Southern Donetsk direction.
The main stage of the battle for Otradnoe lasted less than 48 hours but proved devastating for Ukrainian forces, especially after their recent loss of the town of Bogatyr. Russian troops mopped up nearly 200 buildings and eliminated up to two platoons of Ukraine’s 23rd Mechanized Brigade. The settlement’s capture also grants Russian forces control over a 3-kilometer stretch of the N15 highway, which is a vital route leading deeper into the Zaporozhzhie region.
Ukrainian forces attempted multiple counterattacks to reclaim lost ground, but all were repelled with heavy losses. Near Bogatyr, elements of Ukraine’s 79th Air Assault Brigade launched two assaults using armored vehicles, only to lose their combat machines in retreat. In Otradnoe itself, Ukrainian infantry from the 23rd Mechanized Brigade attacked from tree lines but were driven back, suffering additional armored vehicle losses.
Otradnoe’s liberation marks a key breakthrough in Russia’s broader offensive near Velyka Novosilka, where fighting has intensified at the junction of the Donetsk, Zaporozhzhie, and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The settlement sits on elevated terrain, offering a tactical advantage for Russian drone operators and artillery spotters to target Ukrainian positions in nearby Komar, just 4 kilometers away.
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As Russian forces consolidate their hold, they are now pressing to eliminate remaining resistance southwest of Otradnoe while expanding their zone of control toward Komar. Ukrainian troops have heavily fortified Komar, but its defenses are increasingly vulnerable following the loss of Otradnoe.
The fall of Otradnoe represents another step in Russia’s advance in Southern Donetsk direction. With Ukrainian defenses crumbling under relentless pressure, Moscow’s forces are poised to push deeper into key logistical and defensive hubs. As the battle for Komar looms, Ukraine faces an increasingly precarious situation, with Russian drones and artillery now dominating the area.
