Key facts
- Russia's Defense Ministry announced the capture of two villages, Vasyutinske and Toretsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
- Ukrainian forces have not acknowledged the change in control of these settlements.
- The Ukrainian military reported repelling 24 attacks around Kostiantynivka and Illinivka.
- Russian forces are reportedly advancing westward through the Donetsk region, with recent advances noted near Illinivka and Chasiv Yar.
Russian forces have taken control of two villages in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, according to Russia's Defense Ministry, as reported by RIA news agency. The villages named are Vasyutinske and Toretsk. Ukrainian forces have not confirmed these claims and Reuters could not independently verify the reports. The Ukrainian military's General Staff stated that Kyiv's forces repelled 24 attacks around Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, and other centers. Russian commanders had previously claimed to have seized Kostiantynivka, a claim disputed by Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian war blog DeepState reported Russian advances near Illinivka and Chasiv Yar, west of Bakhmut. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly address, did not mention changes in frontline positions but praised Ukrainian forces fighting in specific areas, including Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka, and Kramatorsk. There have been minimal significant changes along the 1,200-km frontline in recent months, though Russia is slowly advancing westward through Donetsk.