Russia Claims: Sever, Zapad, Yuzhnaya, and Tsentr Groups Break Enemy Defenses

Moscow — The Russian Defence Ministry, providing an update on the progress of the special military operation as of April 23, 2026, stated that the Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Group’s units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and two territorial defense brigades near Novodmitrovka, Stetskovka, Pisarevka, and Malaya Slobodka in Sumy region.

In Kharkov region, Russian troops engaged manpower and hardware of two mechanized brigades of the AFU and two border detachments of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Makarikha, Rubezhnoye, Veseloye, and Sosnovy Bor. The enemy lost more than 220 troops, one armored personnel carrier, 18 motor vehicles, one Israeli-made RADA counter-fire warfare station, two electronic warfare stations, one ammunition depot, and seven materiel depots, according to the ministry.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line, inflicting losses on formations of two mechanized brigades and an assault brigade of the AFU near Osadkovka, Borovaya (Kharkov region), Tatyanovka, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 205 troops, two armored fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and three artillery guns. Four ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions, hitting manpower and hardware of three mechanized brigades of the AFU and a territorial defense brigade near Rai-Aleksandrovka, Tikhonovka, Novoselovka, and Konstantinovka in Donetsk. The AFU losses amounted to up to 185 troops, three armored fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, and two electronic warfare stations. Three ammunition depots and five materiel depots were eliminated.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, inflicting losses on three mechanized brigades, an air assault brigade, a marine brigade, and two national guard brigades of the AFU near Novogrigorovka, Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Kucherov Yar, Svetloye, Toretskoye, Dobropolye, and Kalinino (Donetsk). The AFU losses amounted to more than 360 troops, four motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.