Russia claims to have taken control of multiple settlements in eastern Ukraine

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Tuesday claimed that its forces had captured multiple settlements in eastern Ukraine, including the towns of Mirnoye in the Donetsk region and Malye Shcherbaki in Zaporizhzhia.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said its armed forces also inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian troops across the Belgorod, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

The ministry claimed that Russian air and missile strikes targeted Ukrainian military infrastructure, including command centers, ammunition depots and drone operation sites.

Additionally, Russia’s air defense systems reportedly intercepted a US-made JDAM guided bomb and 92 Ukrainian drones.

Kyiv has not commented on the latest Russian claims, and independent verification of battlefield developments remains difficult.

The attacks come as Russia and Ukraine continue US-brokered ceasefire negotiations in Riyadh.