Russia’s Northern Group forces confirmed on Tuesday that Russian troops neutralized eight members of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kharkiv region.

In a statement, the group said: “Artillery of the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps neutralized a Ukrainian armed forces sabotage and reconnaissance group.”

The statement added: “The positions of the Ukrainian militants were identified using a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera, and their locations were transmitted to a Grad multiple rocket launcher crew.”

On Monday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that units of the Northern Group forces improved their tactical positions and targeted formations of the Ukrainian armed forces in several areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

It noted that “enemy losses amounted to about 150 military personnel, combat vehicles, and a number of field artillery pieces.”

Russian Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister, General Valery Gerasimov, announced that Russian armed forces have liberated 17 towns since the beginning of January 2026 as part of what Moscow calls the special military operation.

Gerasimov said: “Since the beginning of January, 17 towns have been liberated, and more than 500 square kilometers of territory have come under our control.”

He also noted that the Northern Group forces continue to “expand the security buffer zone in the border areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions,” pointing to the liberation of four towns during one month.

Over the past month, four residential towns were liberated, including the towns of Semenovka and Staritsa.

He added that the Western Group “liberated Kupiansk-Uzlovaia, and city neighborhoods are being inspected and cleared,” noting that “fighting is also continuing in the villages of Kovsharovka and Glushkovka.”

He explained that “fighting remains intense in sectors belonging to the Central Group,” noting that its units and formations “are developing the offensive toward Dobropillia and are engaged in street battles in the towns of Hryshyne, Novyi Donbas, and Biletske.”

He also pointed out that the Southern Group forces are “advancing actively westward toward the city of Sloviansk,” noting that assault units have taken control of the towns of Bondarne, Zakotne, and Pryvilne, and that “fighting is currently ongoing to destroy Ukrainian formations inside Kostiantynivka.”