Moscow said Thursday that its military captured another village in eastern Ukraine, where in recent weeks Russian troops have reported incremental battlefield advances.
Russian forces are rushing to claim as much Ukrainian territory as possible ahead of the arrival of U.S. weapons and equipment to Kyiv's forces after months of wrangling over the military aid package in Congress.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday that its forces had "fully liberated the settlement of Berdychi."
Over the weekend, Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Kyiv had retreated from Berdychi, located near the Moscow-held town of Adviika, as well as two other nearby villages to protect "the lives and health of our defenders."
Syrsky called the area around Berdychi the "most complicated" part of the front line and conceded that Russia has made "certain tactical successes" there.
Berdychi is just the latest in a string of small villages in eastern Ukraine that Russia has claimed in recent weeks.
Moscow has made some gains in the area since taking control of Avdiivka in February. Ukraine said at the time that it had established defensive lines in Berdychi after the fall of the nearby village of Lastochkyne.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
