Ukrainian Armed Forces capture 52 Russian soldiers in recent days

Serhiy Haidai shared the information on United News national telethon.

According to the official, Russian soldiers are surrendering more often in recent weeks. "They are simply abandoned in the forests". He stressed that 52 Russian servicemen surrendered in recent days.

Serhiy Haidai informed about the stabilization of the situation in the Bilohorivka direction, Ukrainian defenders have consolidated there. He added that over the week the Defense Forces advanced by 2.5 kilometers towards Svatove and Kreminna.

"For some people the distance of 2.5 kilometers is small. However, taking into account the amount of forces and means Russia has deployed in this direction, as well as the time they had to prepare, this is a very good result," said Haidai.

In response to a question about a possible Russian offensive in the Luhansk region, Haidai assured that the Ukrainian command is informed about Russian plans. The defenders are proactive, that is why explosions in the rear of Russia have become more frequent. He added that on the night of December 30, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit 2 warehouses with Russian ammunition, and as of the next morning the detonation was still ongoing. 

Serhiy Haidai also announced that Russia intensified mobilization in the occupied Luhansk region; men get conscripted while passing checkpoints.

On December 7, the head of the Severodonetsk regional administration Roman Vlasenko said that Kreminna is a springboard for further liberation of the Luhansk region. "Kreminna is located separately from the triangle Rubizhne - Severodonetsk - Lysychansk. During the occupation, Kreminna was on the sidelines. Therefore, this city can become a good foothold for further liberation of the Luhansk region".

On December 24, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai said that Russia had taken the occupation administration out of Svatove. 

On December 29, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that within a week the Ukrainian Defense Forces had advanced up to 2.5 km towards Kreminna, and  Russian troops were preparing a bridgehead for retreat near Luhansk.

The General Staff also informed that Russia continues to suffer losses; more than 200 Russian soldiers are currently undergoing treatment on the temporarily occupied territories.

According to British intelligence, the western grouping of Russian troops led by the new commander Yevgeny Nikiforov will hold the area around Kreminna and Svatove.