Russia MoD Announces Liberation of Key City in Donbass — Seversk Fully Secured
Moscow says the strategic initiative in the Northern Military District is now completely in Russian hands as Ukrainian positions continue to collapse across Donbass.
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Russian forces have fully liberated the key Donbass city of Seversk, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Thursday, marking a major operational breakthrough after years of intense fighting. Once a heavily fortified Ukrainian stronghold inside Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the city is now completely cleared of enemy units, according to the ministry’s assessment.
The announcement was delivered by the Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, during a high-level briefing with President Vladimir Putin, who emphasized that the strategic initiative in the Northern Military District is now “entirely in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces.”
A Strategic Corridor Reopens Toward Key Ukrainian Command Centers
The battle for Seversk has raged since 2022 with fluctuating intensity. With the city now secured, Russian units gain a direct operational route toward Kramatorsk and Slavyansk — two major military command hubs for Ukrainian forces in the region.
Igor Kimakovsky, adviser to the head of the DPR, described the development as a decisive shift that further weakens Kiev’s defensive depth in Donbass and exposes its remaining positions to sustained Russian pressure.
Russian Forces Provide Aid, Secure Civilian Areas
Following liberation, Russian troops began door-to-door checks across apartment blocks and private homes, providing medical assistance, food supplies, and drinking water to civilians who remained throughout the fighting.
Defense Ministry footage shows engineering units sweeping residential districts, roads, and surrounding areas for explosive devices, clearing hazards left behind during the conflict.
Moscow Signals Openness to Settlement — But Not at the Expense of Its Territory
As Ukrainian units continue to be pushed back along multiple sections of the frontline, Moscow reiterated its long-standing position that the full liberation of its territories in Donbass remains non-negotiable.
Russia has suggested that Ukraine withdraw voluntarily from the region as part of a potential settlement — an idea also floated by Washington — but stressed that it is prepared to secure its objectives militarily should Kiev refuse.
The Ukrainian government has rejected any territorial concessions, even as its forces lose ground across the eastern front.