Russia says its forces took two villages in Kharkiv region

Russia's defence ministry said on October 15 that units of its North group of forces had taken control of Nefedovka (Нефедовка) and Chernoye (Черное) in Kharkiv region. Russian state agencies and business outlets reported the announcement during the late morning and early afternoon. The ministry described the villages as lying within an encirclement and attributed their capture to active operations by its units. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

The ministry said its North group was tightening the encirclement while expanding an outer zone of control. According to its account, reported by Interfax, fighting continued for Prikolotnoye (Приколотное), Kotovka (Котовка) and Gogino (Гогино) in Kharkiv region as part of efforts to expand that outer area. The same report said the group was also fighting to take Nikolayevka (Николаевка) and Varvarovka (Варваровка). These were described as ongoing operations, distinct from the announcement that the first two villages had come under Russian control. [ 4 ]

Interfax also relayed the ministry's statement that Russian forces had struck positions of a Ukrainian heavy mechanized brigade and an assault regiment near Fedorovka (Федоровка) and Maly Burluk (Малый Бурлук) in Kharkiv region. In a later report published at 12:38 local time, TASS said the ministry had released footage of the fighting for Nefedovka and Chernoye. Its summary described Russian troops clearing buildings and surrounding areas. The territorial and combat accounts in these reports were presented through Russian ministry statements and state-agency coverage. [ 4 , 7 ]