Russia has claimed control over several villages in eastern Ukraine, pressing toward the strategic city of Toretsk in the embattled Donetsk region. This intensified offensive comes as Russian forces have maintained the upper hand over Kyiv’s troops on the battlefield for several months, capturing territories amidst heavy fighting and civilian casualties.
On Friday, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced the capture of Rozdolivka, a settlement in the Donetsk region. However, Ukrainian military reports indicate that intense combat continues around the area, with Ukrainian forces repelling numerous assaults. Concurrently, a Russian missile attack on a small town in southeastern Ukraine resulted in a deadly inferno, killing at least seven civilians, including three children.
Russian forces have also secured the settlement of Shumy, which lies less than 10 kilometers east of Toretsk. This mining town, with a pre-war population of around 32,000, had largely avoided major conflict until recent weeks when Moscow’s forces began a surprise advance. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that these successful actions have provided their troops with a more favorable tactical position.
Further north, Moscow reported the capture of Spirne, located near the border with the Lugansk region, and Novooleksandrivka, north-west of the occupied Ocheretyne. These locations are the furthest west terretories currently under Russian control in the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian military’s General Staff reported on Friday that Russian forces had launched 19 attacks across a broad sector including Rozdolivka. Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled 15 of these assaults, with four armed confrontations ongoing.
Russia’s advance along the extensive 1,000-km (600-mile) front line has seen the capture of numerous villages since the strategic town of Avdiivka fell in February. The prolonged conflict, now nearing its two-and-a-half-year mark, shows no signs of abating as Russian forces consolidate their gains in eastern Ukraine.
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