Russian troops reported new gains in Ukraine territory on Sunday, saying they had taken two villages in the eastern Donetsk and northeastern Kharkiv provinces, both of which have witnessed increased onslaughts over the past few months.
Russian forces captured the village of Piddubne in the Donetsk region, south-west of the strategic frontline city of Pokrovsk, a Russian Defence Ministry statement said. The ministry stated that its “East” military formation had successfully broken through Ukrainian defenses along the village, which is on the route of Russia’s ongoing advance to capture the whole of the Donetsk region.
Furthermore, Russian troops apparently took over Sobolivka, which is close to Kupiansk in the Kharkiv province a hub of renewed Russian push. The town had earlier been recaptured by Ukraine, but Russian forces have damaged it comprehensively of late. If confirmed, the capture of Sobolivka would be a limited victory west of Kupiansk.
Ukraine’s armed forces did not indicate the loss of either village in its most recent update but did report continuing battles around Kupiansk and other areas in the northeast.
Russian bombardment in the Sumy area, where Moscow has asserted its presence in recent weeks, killed two civilians in the village of Bytytsya, the region’s governor reported.
Russian news agency Interfax also stated that Russian military struck a Ukrainian air base, a plant manufacturing parts for long-range drones, and multiple ammunition stores.
Russia now controls almost 19% of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory, including the vast majority of Luhansk, more than 70% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, and portions of Kharkiv and Sumy.
Moscow still insists that Ukraine should relinquish complete control of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson provinces as a condition of any future peace deal a request Kyiv strongly dismisses as it aims to protect its territorial integrity.
