Russia captures Zaporozhye settlement as Ukraine suffers major losses
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As Russia took over the Zaporozhye settlement, it announced that Ukraine had lost over 160 soldiers in the Kursk direction in 24 hours.
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Police officers look at a crater made by a drone following Russia's night attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, late Saturday, March 29, 2025 (AP)
Russia’s Tsentr (Center) group of forces has taken control of the Zaporozhye settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.
"As a result of successful offensive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces completed the liberation of Zaporozhye (Donetsk People's Republic)," the ministry stated.
Heavy Ukrainian losses
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces have sustained significant losses in multiple operational directions over 24 hours.
- Tsentr Group: Up to 510 Ukrainian military personnel were eliminated, along with seven motor vehicles and four field artillery guns.
- Yug (South) Group: Engaged in combat operations, eliminating up to 300 Ukrainian soldiers and destroying an ammunition depot.
- Zapad (West) Group: Clashes resulted in the loss of up to 240 Ukrainian service members, along with a UK-made Dingo combat reconnaissance vehicle. Russian forces also destroyed the Nota and Zakhist-AF electronic warfare stations and an Israeli-made RADA radar system.
- Vostok (East) Group: Over 140 Ukrainian soldiers were neutralized, according to the ministry.
Losses in Kursk direction
Additionally, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine lost over 160 soldiers in the Kursk direction in 24 hours.
"Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 160 troops, with an armored fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, an all-terrain vehicle, and four UAV control points destroyed," the statement read.
The Sever (North) group of forces reportedly defeated Ukrainian formations near the settlements of Gornal, Guevo, and Oleshnya in the Kursk region, with Russian aviation and artillery striking Ukrainian troops and equipment in these locations as well as in 15 settlements across Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Since the start of hostilities in the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry estimates that Ukrainian forces have lost over 71,050 military personnel, 402 tanks, 329 infantry fighting vehicles, and 290 armored personnel carriers.
The ongoing conflict continues to see shifting front lines, with Russia asserting control over strategic locations while Ukrainian forces sustain mounting casualties.
Russia advances in DPR
On Saturday, DPR head Denis Pushilin told RIA Novosti that Russian forces are engaged in heavy battles near the city of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) in the DPR, while Ukrainian troops continue their counterattack.
"The battles are underway in the vicinity of Krasnoarmeysk itself, already in the direction of [the village of] Kotlyne," Pushilin said.
He noted that Ukrainian forces are attempting to launch counterattacks in this direction, as well as near Dzerzhinsk.
Krasnoarmeysk serves as a key railway hub, linking Donetsk with the Dnepropetrovsk region and providing connections to Ukrainian-controlled cities in the northwest of the DPR.
