Russia claims to have captured 2 more settlements in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had taken control of two more settlements in Ukraine.

In a statement, the ministry said the village of Hlushkivka in the Kharkiv region was captured by the Sever (North) group of forces, while the Zapad (West) group took control of Sydorivka in the Sumy region.

According to the ministry, Ukraine responded with an air raid, during which air defense systems shot down 27 US-made HIMARS rockets, three Neptune long-range guided missiles, and 42 drones.

In a separate statement, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on Telegram that he came under Ukrainian shelling while on a working visit to inspect damage to civilian infrastructure caused by a prior Ukrainian attack.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff confirmed an air attack on Russia, stating that one of Russia's key training grounds, the Kapustin Yar polygon in the southern Astrakhan region, from which Moscow launches its latest Oreshnik missiles, among other things, was hit overnight.

"According to preliminary data, a medium-range ballistic missile servicing facility, an assembly building, and a logistics warehouse were damaged in the Astrakhan region," it said.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that over the past week, Russia used over 2,000 drones, 1,200 guided aviation bombs, and 116 missiles against targets in Ukraine.

He urged partners to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems and to increase pressure on Russia.