MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. The liberation of Nikolskoye has enabled Russian forces to expand the area of control in the Zaporozhye Region and disrupt the Ukrainian army’s defenses, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

The ministry reported earlier on October 12 that its Battlegroup East had liberated the settlement of Nikolskoye in the Zaporozhye Region over the past 24 hours. Nikolskoye was liberated by assault teams of the 40th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade of Russia’s Battlegroup East. In their battle for Nikolskoye, Battlegroup East forces destroyed up to a company of enemy manpower, 15 armored combat vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, 29 ground robotic platforms and 48 R-18 hexacopter drones of the Ukrainian army, the ministry specified.

"The servicemen have taken control of a large enemy defense area on the territory of about 13 sq. km and cleared over 200 buildings. The liberation of Nikolskoye has enabled Battlegroup East units to expand the area of control and disrupt stable defenses of the Ukrainian army in that direction. The frontier seized creates conditions for a further advance by Battlegroup East forces in the western direction," the ministry reported.