Russian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated 11 communities in the Kharkov and Zaporozhye Regions and the Donetsk People’s Republic over the week of August 15-21, including one community over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"Last week, Battlegroup North units took control of the settlement of Kudiyevka in the Kharkov Region through active operations. <…> Over the past week, Battlegroup South units liberated the settlements of Pershomaryevka, Orekhovatka and Nikolaypolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active offensive operations. <…> During the week, Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlements of Andreyevskaya Obshchina, Krasnopodolye, Vodyanskoye and Matyashevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations," the ministry said in a statement.

"Last week, Battlegroup East units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Rybalskoye and Novosoloshino and yesterday, on August 20, they liberated the settlement of Zelyonoye in the Zaporozhye Region through decisive operations," it said.

Russian troops delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, logistics centers and cruise missile launch sites over the week, the ministry reported.

"On August 15-21, 2026, the Russian Armed Forces delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, logistics centers, fuel and energy and transport infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian army, workshops producing ground robotic platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles, uncrewed boats and their components, sites for preparing and launching Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, ammunition, fuel and materiel depots, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said.

Russian forces struck two patrol boats, 12 sea vessels and infrastructure facilities of Ukraine’s ports involved in the Ukrainian army’s supplies over the week, the ministry reported.

"In addition, the strikes targeted infrastructure facilities of Ukraine’s ports used for unloading and storing military cargo, and also fuel and lubricants intended for the needs of the Ukrainian army.