MOSCOW/KYIV: Russian forces have captured two settlements in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry, while Ukrainian authorities reported ongoing fighting along several parts of the frontline.
Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported on Sunday that the Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had taken control of Vasyutinske and Toretsk.
The battlefield claims could not be independently verified by Reuters, and Ukrainian authorities did not acknowledge that the two settlements had changed hands.
Russia Reports Advances in Donetsk
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Russian forces seized Vasyutinske, located several kilometres east of the strategic city of Kramatorsk.
The ministry also claimed control of Toretsk, southwest of Druzhkivka.
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The reported advances come as Russian forces continue efforts to push westward across Donetsk.
However, despite sustained fighting, there has been limited major movement along much of the approximately 1,200-kilometre frontline in recent months.
Ukrainian Sources Report Russian Advances
Ukraine-based war-monitoring project DeepState, which uses open-source information to track battlefield positions, reported that Russian forces had advanced near Illinivka, outside the contested city of Kostiantynivka.
The monitoring group also reported Russian advances near Chasiv Yar, west of Bakhmut.
Russian forces captured Bakhmut in 2023 after months of intense fighting that caused extensive destruction in the city.
Kyiv Reports Fighting Around Kostiantynivka
Ukraine’s General Staff said in a late-evening battlefield report that Ukrainian forces had repelled 24 attacks around Kostiantynivka, Illinivka and other areas.
The report did not confirm Russia’s claim that Vasyutinske and Toretsk had been captured.
Ukrainian officials have also previously disputed Russian claims regarding control of Kostiantynivka.
Disputed Battlefield Claims
Russian commanders said last month that their forces had captured Kostiantynivka. Ukrainian officials rejected that claim.
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The latest reports again highlight the difficulty of independently verifying battlefield developments in the region.
Both sides regularly issue claims about territorial gains and military operations that cannot always be immediately confirmed by independent sources.
Zelenskyy Highlights Frontline Forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not refer to changes in frontline positions in his nightly video address on Sunday.
Instead, he praised Ukrainian forces operating in several key areas, including Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk.
The developments indicate that fighting remains intense in parts of Donetsk despite the relatively limited overall movement along the wider frontline.
The situation around Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk remains particularly significant because further Russian advances in the area could increase pressure on Ukrainian defensive positions in the eastern region.
English Tags: Russia Ukraine War, Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian Forces, Ukrainian Forces, Vasyutinske, Toretsk, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, Illinivka, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine Frontline, Russia Ukraine Conflict, Eastern Ukraine, Ukraine War, Military Conflict
