Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday its forces seized control of a village in the southern part of eastern Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk region.
Russian troops "continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense and liberated the settlement of Staromaiorske," located southwest of the Russian-held city of Donetsk.
Ukrainian troops had retaken the village in July last year during its summer counteroffensive, which had limited success but enabled Kyiv to retake some territory in the south.
Staromaiorske is located on the southwestern edge of the Donetsk region, where there is now fierce fighting following a successful ground assault in the Kharkiv region last month.
At the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum last week, President Vladimir Putin said Russian forces had taken 47 Ukrainian towns and villages so far this year.
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.