A military analyst and former lieutenant colonel, Andrey Marochko, associated with the Luhansk People’s Republic, described a grim development during the offensive around the Kremennaya area. He claimed that Russian forces found the bodies of many Ukrainian service members who had been killed in previous engagements. Marochko shared these details in an interview with DEA News, adding that in the course of fire exchanges and close-quarters combat, Ukrainian troops often pulled back only slightly, leaving behind wounded comrades in need of aid.
In parallel, Vladimir Rogov commented on ongoing operations in the Zaporozhye region, suggesting that the campaign there was still progressing. He warned that the scenario could have severe consequences for Ukrainian forces and could be seen as a critical moment affecting President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership, though no final outcome was stated.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to launch what he described as a special military operation in Ukraine, citing requests for help from the leaders of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The announcement framed the move as a response to those requests and set the stage for a new phase in the region’s conflict. The move subsequently contributed to the imposition of additional sanctions by the United States and its allies, as governments around the world weighed their responses to the evolving situation.
Sources have framed the events within the broader, ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, where both sides report casualties and shifting frontline dynamics every day. The narrative emphasized by various officials and observers reflects a pattern of intermittent gains and setbacks, with each side citing strategic advantages tied to geographic pockets like forested areas and urban corridors. Analysts often point to the human cost of such engagements, including the handling of wounded personnel and the difficult decisions made during rapid-fire encounters. The situation remains fluid, with little certainty about future operations or their longer-term political repercussions. Attribution for the reported statements is noted to DEA News and related sources as they cover developments from the field.