Russia claims it captured 10 settlements in Ukraine over past week

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia’s Defense Ministry on Friday claimed that its forces captured 10 settlements in Ukraine over the past week.

It said this week, Russian forces conducted five group strikes using air-based precision weapons and attack drones, targeting Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, military airfield infrastructure, assembly and storage sites for strike drones and unmanned boats, ammunition depots, fuel and military equipment warehouses.

"Ukraine's territorial recruitment centers, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed units, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries, were also among the strike objectives," the statement said.

According to the ministry, Ukraine responded with airstrikes over the past week and Russia's air defense systems shot down two US-made HIMARS rockets, two long-range Neptune guided missiles, 28 guided aerial bombs, and 1,387 fixed-wing drones.

In a separate statement, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had "a very substantive, hour-long conversation" with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The situation on the front lines, Ukraine’s most urgent defense needs, issues of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, particularly regarding missile supplies for SAMP/T systems and funding for interceptor drones were among the topics discussed, he said on Telegram.

"I would like to highlight our agreement on pilot training for Mirage fighter jets -- France is prepared to train additional pilots using additional aircraft," he said.

According to him, Kyiv and Paris are coordinating with American partners to ensure "Russia faces truly global pressure. "