UPDATE - Ukraine claims it retook control of 2 villages in Donetsk region

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM UKRAINE’S DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine on Sunday claimed that its forces have retaken control of two villages in the Donetsk region.

“The glorious soldiers from the Oleksa Dovbush 68th Separate Hunting Brigade, in a joint effort with the neighboring units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, liberated the settlement of Blahodatne,” the brigade said on Facebook.

It further claimed that Russian soldiers were also captured during the operation in the area, adding the information to be received from them “will help in the further de-occupation of Ukrainian land.”

Later, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukrainian forces have also taken control of the Makarivka village in the Donetsk region.

“The settlements of Blahodatne and Makarivka have been de-occupied,” she said in a post on Telegram.

Maliar said that in the Bakhmut area, Ukrainian troops are continuing to carry out attacks. “There are gains in the area of the Berkhivka reservoir. We advanced by 250 meters.”

Russian authorities have not yet commented on the claim.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that the Ukrainian army is taking “appropriate counteroffensive and defensive actions” against Russia on the front line.