Moscow: Russian Forces Claim Control Over Two Villages in Eastern Donetsk
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its troops have gained control over two villages in the eastern Donetsk region. The villages, Zelene Pole and Dachne, are locations that have seen intense fighting recently.
According to a report from the ministry, Zelene Pole is situated between Pokrovsk, which has been a key target for Russian attacks, and Velyuka Novosilka, a settlement that Russian forces reportedly seized last month. The village of Dachne, located to the west of the town of Kurakhove, also fell under Russian control, following heavy combat in the area.
In contrast, the General Staff of Ukraine’s military, in its evening report, acknowledged that both villages were among several locations attacked by Russian forces in the Pokrovsk area but did not confirm that they had been captured.
Independent verification of the ongoing situation on the battlefield has not been possible.
In related remarks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that a Russian victory in Ukraine would not lead to lasting peace. Meanwhile, the Ukraine-based DeepState military blog, which monitors progress through open-source information, indicated that Russian forces have indeed made strides around the villages of Zelene Pole and Dachne.
Following an unsuccessful attempt to take Kyiv after invading in February 2022, Russian forces have shifted their focus to the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk. Over recent months, they have steadily progressed across the Donetsk area, taking control of numerous villages.
Despite these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the achievements of a Ukrainian regiment operating near Pokrovsk, though he did not specify the details of the latest operations. Additionally, there have been reports from foreign observers noting Ukrainian counterattacks in the vicinity.
