Russia’s Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that Russian forces have taken control of 12 settlements in Ukraine since the beginning of February, claiming further territorial gains along the front line.

According to a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defence, Gerasimov inspected units operating under the “Joint Forces Group” involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During the visit, the group’s commander, Valery Solodchuk, briefed Gerasimov on the latest developments at the front. Following a meeting with senior commanders, Gerasimov stated that Russian troops were continuing to advance in multiple directions.

“Despite harsh winter conditions, units of the Joint Forces Group liberated 12 settlements in the first week of February. More than 200 square kilometers of territory have come under our control,” Gerasimov said, according to the ministry’s statement.

International news agencies have reported similar battlefield claims from Moscow in recent weeks, typically noting that such assertions cannot be independently verified and that fighting remains intense across eastern and southern Ukraine.

The latest statement comes amid continued heavy clashes along several sectors of the front, where both Russian and Ukrainian forces have reported ongoing offensives and counteroffensives.

The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has entered its third year, with shifting front lines and sustained military operations despite winter weather conditions. Military analysts say territorial control in some areas remains fluid, with both sides attempting to improve their tactical positions ahead of expected spring operations.

No immediate confirmation or response from Ukrainian officials regarding the specific settlements mentioned in the Russian statement was available at the time of reporting. (ILKHA)