Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, claiming another settlement

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia claimed on Monday that another Ukrainian settlement went under Moscow's control, marking further advancement.

The Defense Ministry in a statement said the Russian group of forces Tsentr (Center) took over the city of Zalizne (formerly Artemove) in the eastern Donetsk region.

"As a result of active actions, units of the Center group of troops liberated one of the large settlements of the Dzerzhinsk agglomeration -- Artemovе in the Donetsk People's Republic," it said.

Another group of forces improved their positions along the front line, the ministry said.

It also released footage, purportedly showing strikes at Ukrainian troops in the Russian Kursk region, saying artillery and aviation continue carrying out tasks aimed at ousting the opponent back to its territory.

"In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 639 aircraft, 282 helicopters, 30,161 drones, 575 air defense systems, 17,340 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,412 multiple rocket launchers, 13,415 field artillery and mortars, 24,919 special military vehicles have been destroyed," it said.

Meanwhile, Russia closed the entry to six settlements in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine amid the fighting that is ongoing with Ukrainian troops in the neighboring Kursk region.

People were previously evacuated with their property, the regional authorities said.