Russian troops have taken control of the village of Katerynivka in the Ukrainian Donetsk region, world agencies reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, BTA reported.
The capture of Katerynivka and the nearby village of Novomykhailivka will allow Russian forces to put pressure on the rear of the last Ukrainian troops in the Luhansk region, DPA reports.
Ukrainian military bloggers reported Russian advances in the Katerynivka area, but did not confirm whether the village had been captured.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian forces also reported fighting in the area today. According to the Ukrainian military, the main focus of the fighting is once again around the key mining town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, which has been under siege for months.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion for more than three years. In 2022, Russia announced the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, an act not recognized by Ukraine or the international community.