UPDATE - Russia claims it took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s Donetsk region

ADDS STATEMENT BY UKRAINE'S GENERAL STAFF, MINOR EDITS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia claimed on Sunday that it took control of another village in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

According to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian forces captured the village of Mykhailivka, located almost 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk city, a major front in Moscow’s ongoing offensive in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russia has frequently reported gains in recent months as it continues its offensive in Donetsk, with the front-line area around Pokrovsk seeing heightened activity.

The city serves as a key logistics hub for Ukraine’s army in the Donetsk region, which borders Russia.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine's General Staff claimed that its forces stopped 36 Russian offensives toward multiple settlements near Pokrovsk, including Mykhailivka.

However, Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia's recent claims, and independent verification of the claims is difficult due to the ongoing war.