Russia said today it had captured three towns in southeastern Ukraine, where its troops were slowly advancing in some areas despite heavy losses suffered by outnumbered Ukrainian forces, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
In a statement published on “Telegram“, the Russian Defense Ministry said Moscow's forces had established control over Novonikolayevka and Privolnoye in Zaporizhia region, as well as over Yegorivka in Dnipropetrovsk region.
AFP notes that it was unable to independently confirm these claims.
Amid the stalemate in peace talks between Kiev and Moscow, the Russian army - better armed and more numerous - continues its attacks along the front, but without achieving significant breakthroughs. In recent months, Moscow has used tactics based on multiple attacks with small infantry groups, avoiding the formation of large offensive formations vulnerable to drone strikes.
The capture of eastern Donetsk region remains a priority for the Kremlin. In recent days, the Russian army has intensified its pressure in the area of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd - Ukrainian cities that Moscow has been trying to capture for months.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian army announced yesterday that “small infantry groups“ - a total of about 200 Russian soldiers, had managed to penetrate Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night that Russian forces had concentrated “their main strike force“ against Pokrovsk and that fierce fighting was taking place on the outskirts of the city.