Russia claims capture of 5 settlements in eastern Ukraine

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that its forces have captured five settlements in eastern Ukraine, according to a statement reported by Anadolu Agency. The ministry said that in the eastern Donetsk region, Russian troops took control of the village of Vasylivka, located approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of the city of Pokrovsk. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, the ministry added, Russian forces captured the settlements of Cherneshchyna, Druzheliubivka, Novyi Myr, and Shyikivka.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine's General Staff claimed that its forces had repelled three Russian assaults near three settlements on the Lyman front over the past 24 hours, including the village of Shyikivka. The conflicting claims highlight the ongoing intense fighting in the region.

According to the report by Mehr News Agency, the Russian Defense Ministry did not provide further details on the timing of the captures or the current status of the settlements. The developments come amid continued Russian offensives in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, where Moscow has sought to expand territorial gains.