Russia claims to have taken control of another village in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) — Russia on Tuesday said its forces had captured the settlement of Yasenove 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 added that Russian troops continued their offensive, making rapid advances in certain areas.

It also said that forces launched a coordinated strike overnight using precision weapons and drones, targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure that supplies military industry enterprises.

Ukraine responded with a large-scale drone attack, but Russian forces shot down 128 unmanned aerial vehicles overnight, along with three French-made Hammer guided bombs and US-made HIMARS rockets, the ministry claimed.

Since the start of the conflict three years ago, Russia says it has destroyed 653 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 42,979 drones, 592 air defense systems, 21,287 tanks and other armored vehicles, 1,514 multiple rocket launchers, 21,495 artillery and mortars, and 31,459 military transport vehicles.

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