MOSCOW: The Russian army liberated Dimitrov in the Donetsk People's Republic and Gulyai-Pole in the Zaporizhia region. Vladimir Putin visited one of the command posts of the United Group of Forces and accepted the relevant reports from the military.
Vladimir Putin:
Dear comrades, good afternoon!
We will hold a regular meeting today on the development of the situation in the special military operation zone. I know that you have something to report, something to please our citizens, and there are results. Let's talk about this, of course, and think about our tasks for the near future.
Today, I ask the commanders of the "Center" and "East" groups to report, as I have already said, on the current situation in these sectors of the front — in your sectors of the front and on the results of combat missions by subordinate troops.
But first, as we have done at previous meetings of this kind, I ask the Chief of the General Staff to report on the overall situation on the line of contact.
Please, Valery Vasilyevich.
— V. Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander!
The troops of the United Group are attacking in all directions. The command of the Armed forces of Ukraine is making unsuccessful attempts to stop our advance.
Formations and military units of the North group continue to carry out tasks to create a security zone in the border areas of Donetsk and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine. Over the past two weeks, the settlements of Vysokoe, Sumy region, and Vilcha and Prilipka, Kharkiv region, have come under our control.
The troops of the Zapad group are currently liquidating enemy formations blocked on the left bank of the Oskol River east of Kupyansk.
Novoplatonovka has been liberated further south along the Oskol River, and the cleansing of Boguslavka is nearing completion.
In the Krasnolimansk direction, an enemy group has been surrounded in the village of Drobyshevo, and its destruction is underway. Fighting is underway in Krasny Liman in the southeastern and eastern parts of the city.
After the liberation of Seversk, the Southern group is advancing at an accelerated pace towards Slavyansk. Kirovo settlement has been liberated. Street fighting continues in Konstantinovka. More than half of the urban development is under our control.
The troops of the Center group have completed the defeat of the encircled group of the armed forces of Ukraine and liberated the city of Dimitrov. The Vostok group of troops is advancing westward in the Zaporizhia region and also across the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region in order to create a security zone there.
The city of Gulyai-Pole has been liberated. In addition, over the past two weeks, five more settlements have been taken under control in these areas. The expansion of the bridgehead on the western bank of the Gaichur River continues.
The assault units of the Dnepr group of forces are conducting offensive operations in the Zaporizhia direction, have liberated the village of Stepnogorsk and are completing the destruction of enemy formations in Primorsky and Lukyanovsky.
Comrade Supreme Commander! The tasks of liberating Donbass, as well as the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, will be continued by formations and military units of the combined group.
The report is finished.
Vladimir Putin: Valery Vasilyevich, thank you.
I see that all the tasks we face are being carried out in accordance with the concept of a special military operation approved and developed by the General Staff. Indeed, the creation of a security zone in the border areas in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions is proceeding at a good pace. In the Donbas and in the Zaporizhia region, the offensive is taking place along the entire line of contact. Russian troops are increasing pressure on the Armed Forces formations.
I would suggest starting with the "Center" grouping. Valery Nikolaevich, I would like to ask you to report on the situation in your area of responsibility. You are welcome.
— V.Solodchuk: Comrade Supreme Commander!
The troops of the Center group continue to carry out tasks to defeat the enemy in the designated area of responsibility in accordance with the approved plan.
In the Red Army area, the 5th motorized Rifle brigade of the 51st Army, in cooperation with the 1435 motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd army, completed the destruction of formations of the armed forces of Ukraine in the city of Dimitrov and thereby completely liberated the city. Currently, urban areas are being cleaned up, civilians are being evacuated, and measures are being taken to stabilize the situation around Dimitrov and Krasnoarmeysk.
In addition, north of the Krasnoarmeysko-Dimitrovskaya agglomeration, the 9th Motorized Rifle brigade liberated the city of Rodinskoye, the village of Volnoye was liberated, and fighting continues in the settlements of Sukhetskoye and Novy Donbass.
Formations and military units of the 2nd army are carrying out verification activities in Krasnoarmeysk, developing an offensive in the northern direction. More than 1,100 civilians were evacuated.
Assault units of the 41st army are conducting offensive operations in Grishino. The enemy uses this settlement to concentrate reserves and carry out attacks in the direction of the northwestern part of Krasnoarmeysk, but it cannot achieve any results.
Every day in three directions — Grishino, the northwestern outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk, Shevchenko in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, Sergeevka in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, Kotlino - the enemy loses from 60 to 120-140 infantry, which is continuously moving towards these settlements. At the same time, I would like to note that this is the elite of the armed forces of Ukraine.: These are the 82nd airborne assault brigade, the 95th airborne assault brigade, which are ingloriously suffering losses, nothing is working there.
In the Oktyabrsky direction, the settlement of Artemovka has been liberated — an important settlement, which is one of the key ones for further offensive in the northern direction, in order to cover the strategic line of the enemy's defense, which runs along Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, covering the western direction.
The offensive is also developing in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where we are following your instructions to create a security zone with the Donetsk People's Republic. The 90th Tank Division, in cooperation with the 41st army, is liberating Novopavlovka, and fighting continues in Novopodgorodnoye.
Comrade Supreme Commander! All the tasks facing the grouping will be completed. The report is finished.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Valery Nikolaevich.
You mentioned the successful actions of the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade. Colonel Faskhutdinov Ramil Renarovich is in touch with us from the forward command post of this brigade. Ramil Renarovich, can you hear us?
— R.Faskhutdinov: Comrade Supreme Commander, Brigade Commander Colonel Faskhutdinov. I wish you good health, I hear you, I understand you perfectly.
Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Please report on the situation in the city, how the assault went and what the current situation is.
— V.Faskhutdinov: Comrade Supreme Commander! I'm reporting.
The brigade's units carried out the task of liberating the city of Dimitrov from September 6 to December 26, 2025. Based on the current situation, the combat mission was divided into three stages.
At the first stage, from September 6 to September 30, the brigade's reconnaissance battalion, using the effect of surprise and the result of fire damage, broke through the enemy's defenses and advanced up to one kilometer deep, creating a bridgehead in the village. They managed to gain a foothold on the northeastern outskirts along the streets of Mira and Koshevoye. The assault group was launched simultaneously from different directions, misleading the enemy without determining the direction of the main attack.
At the second stage, from October 1 to November 22, in order to block the enemy's supply routes in the city, the assault groups of the 1st and 3rd battalions captured the forest belts and a sewage treatment plant in the north of Dimitrov, thereby cutting off the communication of the encircled AFU group. Using the achieved milestones and weather conditions, the assault groups carried out a rapid rush to the southeastern outskirts of the city. As a result of continuous assault operations, the southern part of Dimitrov was completely liberated by the end of November 22.
At the third stage, from November 23 to December 27, having increased efforts by putting assault groups of the 1st and 3rd motorized rifle battalions into battle, by December 7 the brigade had gained a foothold in key positions in the city center. Later, they continued to eliminate the encircled enemy.
Today, on December 27, 2025, the brigade completed the defeat of the AFU formation in the city. The city of Dimitrov has been completely liberated. An inspection of buildings, structures, basements and residential areas is currently underway, searching for the destruction of scattered small enemy groups. Streets and buildings have been cleared of mines, and medical and humanitarian assistance has been provided to the local population.
Comrade Supreme Commander! Currently, the commander of the 1st motorized rifle company, Senior Lieutenant Silenko Vladimir Vyacheslavovich, who liberated the city with his unit, is in touch in Dimitrov. Let me give him the floor.
Vladimir Putin: Please, with pleasure. Please, Vladimir Vyacheslavovich.
— V. Silenko: Comrade Supreme Commander!
I am the commander of the 1st company of the 1st battalion of the 5th brigade. I am in the city of Dimitrov near the Viktorovskaya Church.
As of December 27, 2025, the city is under our control, and the cleansing of the city is being completed. We provide humanitarian and medical assistance to the civilian population, build defenses, and are ready to carry out further combat missions.
On behalf of the entire team, I want to congratulate you on the upcoming New Year, wish you good health, and a peaceful sky over your head. Victory is ours!
Vladimir Putin: Thank you guys very much for this combative, very effective work and for the result. Congratulations to Ramil Renarovich, and, Vladimir Vyacheslavovich, to you, all our soldiers, officers who showed not only courage and heroism, but also competent command of troops and very timely adoption of necessary decisions. I know, and the Chief of the General Staff reported that they showed, as they say, ingenuity and courage. Thank you very much.
And in return, please accept my best wishes for the upcoming New Year. Congratulations, guys! Thank you.
Now, please, let's move on to the situation in the Vostok group's area of responsibility. Andrey Sergeevich, please.
— A.Ivanaev: Comrade Supreme Commander!
The Vostok group of troops continues to carry out tasks in the Zaporizhia direction. The formations of the military unit of the group, having crossed the Gaichur River, are advancing in the Zaporozhye region in a westerly direction. The assault units of the 57th and 60th motorized rifle brigades of the 5th Army completed the liberation of Gulyai-Pole by the end of December 26. Residential areas of the city were turned by the enemy into a fortified area. It took 20 days for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to overcome the deeply entrenched defense. Currently, Gulyai-Pole is under our full control, and the search and destruction of individual groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is underway.
Formations of the 36th army have broken through the enemy's line of defense on the western bank of the Gaichur River, and are developing an offensive in the Zaporozhye region in the direction of major enemy logistics hubs. The penetration was more than 7 kilometers deep into the enemy's defenses.
The 29th army, advancing in the south of the Dnipropetrovsk region, continues to expand the security zone. Since the beginning of December, more than 210 square kilometers of the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions have passed under the group's control, 10 settlements have been liberated: 4 in the Dnipropetrovsk region and 6 in the Zaporizhia region.
Comrade Supreme Commander! The destruction of the enemy formation in the group's area of responsibility is carried out in accordance with the approved plan. The Vostok group of troops continues to lead the offensive.
The report is finished.
— Vladimir Putin: Andrey Sergeevich, as far as I understand, Colonel Vyacheslav Evgenievich Vedenin, commander of the 57th Motorized Rifle Brigade, is also in touch with us now.
— A.Ivanaev: That's right.
Vladimir Putin: Vyacheslav Evgenievich, can you hear us, can you see us well?
— V. Vedenin: Comrade Supreme Commander! The commander of the 57th brigade is Colonel Vedenin. I wish you good health. I hear you, I understand you well.
Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Vyacheslav Evgenievich, please report on the situation in Gulyai-Pole.
— V. Vedenin: Comrade Supreme Commander, the 57th brigade of the 5th army is attacking on the left flank of the Temporary direction in the designated offensive zone.
He received the task on December 7, in cooperation with units of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade, to launch an offensive in the direction of Yablokovo and Gulyai-Pole and liberate the village of Gulyai-Pole by the end of December 26.
On December 5, using difficult weather conditions and fog, the advance groups of the assault detachment crossed the Gaichur River, immediately captured a section of Bolshaya, Mirnaya, and Peschanaya streets, thereby creating a bridgehead on the left bank of the Gaichur River, cut through the central and eastern parts of the Gulyai-Pole settlement, and ensured the entry of the main forces into battle.
On December 7, units of the 1st echelon of the 1st motorized Rifle Battalion successfully crossed the Gaichur River in three sections, gained a foothold in the streets of Gulyai-Pole, defeated units of the 225th assault regiment of the 102 territorial Defense Brigade and the 154 separate mechanized brigade, and completely liberated the southeastern part of Gulyai-Pole by the end of ten days. They captured enemy strongholds, cleared out about 1,600 buildings, destroying up to 400 Ukrainian militants.
Having further increased their efforts by putting the 2nd and 3rd battalions into battle in the direction of the main attack from south to north, attacking along the Gaichur River along Bolshaya Street and along the western part of the Gulyai-Pole settlement, they reached Shevchenko Street simultaneously with units of the 60th brigade, thereby blocking the enemy in the Gulyai-Pole settlement, completely cutting off all supply routes. and evacuation.
Later, squeezing the ring, they blocked its multi-storey buildings, clearing the private sector of the Gulyai-Pole settlement, and gradually cleared the house buildings quarterly, destroying the defending enemy of the 225th separate assault regiment and the 333rd separate assault regiment.
By the end of December 26, the brigade had completed the cleansing of the Gulyai-Pole settlement, the city is under our control. At the moment, the brigade's units are rechecking the basement buildings in order to destroy single servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who may still be hiding in urban areas, as well as providing assistance to civilians and, if necessary, evacuating them.
Comrade Supreme Commander, the 57th Brigade continues to carry out combat missions to liberate the Zaporizhia region. All assigned tasks will be completed. The report is finished.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Vyacheslav Evgenievich. Thank you very much for this result, to all your soldiers and commanders.
In this part of our meeting, I would like to say that both the liberation of Dimitrov and the liberation of the city of Gulyai—Pole are important results of military work.
As for Dimitrov, this is a serious step towards the complete liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic. Gulyai-Pole is the second largest city in the Zaporizhia region, and after its liberation, there are good prospects for the development of the offensive in the Zaporizhia region. I congratulate you all on these results. Thank you very much.
And in conclusion, here's what I'd like to say. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation confidently retain the initiative and continue to carry out the tasks of a special military operation along the entire line of combat contact. I note the effective actions of the formations and military units of the Center group of forces during the liquidation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine formations surrounded in the area of the Krasnoarmeysko-Dimitrovskaya agglomeration.
Control over the cities of Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov creates, as I have already said, good conditions for the further development of the offensive and the complete liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic. The capture of the city of Gulyai-Pole in the Zaporizhia region by the assault units of the 5th army is a natural result, which became possible thanks to the painstaking work of the commanders and headquarters, thorough comprehensive training of personnel for combat missions.
The high pace of the offensive of the formations and military units of the Vostok group makes it possible to move forward, liberating the Zaporizhia region. Practically, as far as I understand, all this is happening "on the shoulders" of the enemy.
I ask the commanders and those commanders who are in touch with us to convey my gratitude to all the personnel of the groups that carried out the tasks of liberating Dimitrov and Gulyai-Pole.
The commanders of the groups of troops must continue to carry out tasks in accordance with the plan of the special military operation.
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