Russia claims taking control of another settlement in Ukraine’s Donetsk region

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia claimed on Wednesday that it took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow says it continues to advance amid its offensive in the region.

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces took control of the settlement of Nova Illinka located in Donetsk’s Pokrovsk district, a major front in Moscow’s ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine.

The settlement is located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of the village of Illinka, which Moscow claimed to have captured last week.

It is also located north of the Kurakhiv Reservoir, on the left bank of which lies the city of Kurakhove, a key stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the region that also houses a thermal power plant.

Ukrainian authorities have yet to comment on Russia’s claims, and independent verification of the claim is difficult due to the ongoing war.​​​​​​​