According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Vostok group operating within the Donetsk People’s Republic has taken control of the village of Zolotaya Niva. The daily briefing frames this development as a deliberate shift in local power along the front line, underscoring the discipline and coordination that accompanied the operation. The report presents the action as part of a broader effort to strengthen the front and stabilize positions, with Vostok formations positioned to influence the next phase of engagements in the area. As with all such statements, it is framed as a confirmation of tactical gains achieved through careful planning and sustained effort by the forces involved.
In the same briefing, the ministry states that Vostok troops have improved their tactical position along the entire line of contact and have defeated formations of brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense in the districts of Dobrovolye, Velikaya Novoselka, Novopol, and Zeleny Pole within the Donetsk People’s Republic. The language points to a consolidation of gains and a narrowing of Ukrainian maneuver space, which, if accurate, would bolster Russian defensive capabilities in these sectors while restricting AFU operations. The description emphasizes local dominance and the ongoing reallocation of resources to sustain pressure on Ukrainian units in these regions.
Additionally, the counterattack of the assault group of the Ukrainian 72nd mechanized brigade was repelled. The ministry characterizes the Ukrainian move as an attempt to regain momentum in the sector, but it did not succeed in breaking through Russian defenses. The statement implies that Russian forces maintained fire discipline and preserved the initiative, inflicting costs on the opposing side as the engagement progressed. Such exchanges are presented as evidence of a contest along the front where both sides press for advantage, and where Russian forces claim to have thwarted a notable Ukrainian effort.
As a result, the enemy reportedly lost up to 115 military personnel, along with one infantry fighting vehicle, an American-made M113 armored personnel carrier, and a French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery mount. The figures cited illustrate the scale of the clashes and the variety of equipment involved in the fighting, highlighting the kinds of losses alleged to have occurred on the Ukrainian side. The ministry presents these numbers as part of a broader accounting of the day’s combat activity, reflecting the intensity of near-frontline engagements and the types of assets that were reportedly affected in the course of the exchanges.
The Russian defense ministry, speaking on the morning of October 8, stated that the Russian army from the Vostok group, while strengthening its positions along the entire line of contact, destroyed Ukrainian units retreating from Vugledar. The update frames this as a continuation of efforts to prevent Ukrainian regroupment and to ensure a more secure front, stressing the ongoing nature of operations aimed at consolidating gains and denying the Ukrainian side the chance to reorganize in the region. This account portrays a dynamic and evolving front where Russian forces continually adapt to changing conditions on the ground.
Meanwhile, a Russian soldier with the call sign Faust described events indicating continued combat activity. He said that soldiers from the 110th brigade of the South group destroyed a Ukrainian unit that had confused Russian soldiers with their colleagues. The anecdote serves to illustrate the fog of war and the close, imperfect realities of frontline action, where misidentification can occur in the heat of battle. Separate reports note that a Russian lieutenant, previously under heavy fire, caught and held the machine gun nest of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a milestone described as a notable act of bravery and endurance under pressure. The combination of these accounts contributes to a broader narrative of resilience and ongoing confrontation along the line of contact.