Russia claims to have captured of another settlement in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Thursday said its forces had captured the settlement of Vodyane Druhe in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

According to the Defense Ministry, the village fell under Russian control following an operation by the Tsentr (Center) group of forces.

The ministry also said that it launched a coordinated strike overnight using precision weapons and drones, targeting Ukraine's military airfields and ports, workshops for drone production, and storage sites for fuel and lubricants.

Ukraine responded with a large-scale drone attack and Russian forces shot down 202 drones overnight, along with three French-made Hammer guided bombs and US-made HIMARS rockets, the ministry claimed.

Since the start of the conflict nearly three years ago, Russia says it has destroyed 653 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 43,247 drones, 592 air defense systems, 21,314 tanks and other armored vehicles, 1,515 multiple rocket launchers, 21,627 artillery and mortars, and 31,528 military transport vehicles.