Ukraine claims 28 settlements liberated from Russian occupation

By Ruslan Rehimov

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - Ukraine claimed on Friday that a total of 28 settlements have been liberated from Russian occupation.

Ukrainian General Staff announced in a statement that 15 residential areas have been completely liberated from the occupation of Russia, while Russian forces withdrew from another 13 settlements and that those areas were once again taken under control.

A total of 28 settlements were liberated, the vast majority of which were in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions in the last 24 hours, it noted.

The statement also stressed that the Ukrainian army now focuses on taking full control of Mariupol, one of the Ukrainian provinces where civilian evacuations are still underway.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed Monday that the Irpin city near Kyiv was liberated from Russian occupation.

The Russian war against Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,232 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,935 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara