Russia claims it took control of 2 more settlements in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia claimed on Tuesday that its forces captured two more settlements in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

Units of the Tsent (Center) group of forces took control over the settlement of Novoukrainka in the Donetsk region, while units of the Vostok (East) group continued advancing and captured the settlement of Temirovka in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said that aviation, strike drones, missile forces, and artillery struck Ukraine's military airfield infrastructure, a drone production workshop, training center, and points of temporary deployment of Ukrainian formations and foreign mercenaries at 142 locations.

Ukraine responded with air raids, the ministry said, adding that overnight, Russian air defense systems shot down one long-range Neptune guided missile and 236 drones.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the claims, and independent verification is difficult due to the ongoing armed conflict.