Russian Defence Ministry says its forces took control of Annopolye in Kharkiv region
In short
Russia's Defence Ministry said on 8 October that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Annopolye (Аннополье) in Kharkiv region, crediting units of the "Sever" (North) group of forces. The ministry said fighting continues for Prikolotnoye (Приколотное) and Kotovka (Котовка), and that holding Annopolye would let its forces control the Stary Saltov - Podsrednee road.
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Russia's Defence Ministry said on 8 October that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Annopolye in Kharkiv region. "In the course of expanding the outer zone of control as a result of an active offensive by the group's units, the settlement of Annopolye in Kharkiv region has been taken under control," the ministry said in its summary, quoted by RIA Novosti and Interfax. RBC reported that the ministry announced the capture on its Telegram channel. Vedomosti and Kommersant reported that the ministry credited units of the "Sever" (North) group of forces. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
The ministry said fighting continues for control of Prikolotnoye and Kotovka in Kharkiv region. According to Interfax, it also said the "Sever" units are continuing to tighten an encirclement and widen the outer zone of control, with fighting inside the encirclement for Nikolayevka, Varvarovka, Lukashovo, Reznikovo, Lobanovka and Nefedovka. The ministry said Ukrainian forces lost up to 40 servicemen and a field artillery piece inside the encirclement over the past day. [ 2 , 4 ]
TASS reported that the ministry said taking Annopolye would allow the "Sever" group to control the Stary Saltov - Podsrednee road and make Ukrainian forces' logistics more difficult. The ministry also released video that TASS said showed Russian artillery and drone units at work. Vedomosti noted that the ministry had earlier reported the capture by the same group of Novaya Kazachya on 3 October, Grachevka and Serdobino on 2 October, and Nesternoye, Rublenoye and Vysokaya Yaruga a day before that. The documents contain no comment from the Ukrainian side. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The ministry presents the capture as part of widening an "outer zone of control" around an encirclement in Kharkiv region and says it will make Ukrainian forces' logistics harder. All reports rely on the Russian ministry's statement; the documents carry no Ukrainian comment.
Key facts
- Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces took control of the settlement of Annopolye in Kharkiv region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The ministry credited units of the "Sever" (North) group of forces. [ 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The ministry said fighting continues for control of Prikolotnoye and Kotovka in Kharkiv region. [ 2 , 4 ]
- According to the ministry, the "Sever" group can now control the Stary Saltov - Podsrednee road, which it said would hamper Ukrainian forces' logistics. [ 7 ]
- The ministry said fighting continues inside an encirclement for Nikolayevka, Varvarovka, Lukashovo, Reznikovo, Lobanovka and Nefedovka in Kharkiv region. [ 4 ]
- The ministry released video it said showed the operation, including artillery and drone units at work. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Russian forces fully control Annopolye. All reports cite only the Russian Defence Ministry; the documents include no Ukrainian or independent confirmation.
- The reported Ukrainian losses of up to 40 servicemen and an artillery piece. The figure comes from the Russian ministry's summary, reported by one outlet, and is not independently verified.
- The effect on Ukrainian logistics along the Stary Saltov - Podsrednee road. This is the ministry's own assessment, reported by TASS only.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports the Defence Ministry's statement that Russian forces took control of Annopolye. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti quotes the ministry's summary, including continued fighting for Prikolotnoye and Kotovka. [ 2 ]
- Interfax publishes the ministry's wider summary on the encirclement in Kharkiv region. [ 4 ]
- TASS reports the ministry has released video of the operation. [ 6 ]
- TASS reports the ministry's claim that the capture lets the "Sever" group control the Stary Saltov - Podsrednee road. [ 7 ]