Russia Claims Seizure of Two Villages in Eastern Ukraine Amid Ongoing Fighting

Moscow's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that Russian forces had seized control of two more villages in eastern Ukraine, notably including Maliivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, indicating a continued Russian advance in the area. However, Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the loss of these territories, citing sustained and intense combat operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided an overview of the frontline situation stretching over 1,000 kilometers, emphasizing that the logistics center of Pokrovsk remains a primary battleground. He further noted that Ukrainian troops achieved "successful actions" in the Sumy region on the northern border, despite recent Russian footholds there.

Independent verification of these battlefield claims remains unconfirmed due to the complexity of the conflict.

These clashes occurred shortly after the third direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Turkey, aimed at conflict resolution. While some progress was reported regarding prisoner and casualty exchanges, no significant advancements toward a ceasefire or a leadership meeting were disclosed.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, their forces have captured Zelenyi Hai in Donetsk and Maliivka, a village just inside Dnipropetrovsk. Zelenyi Hai is described as a key Ukrainian defensive position guarding the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region.

It is important to note that Dnipropetrovsk is not among the five regions Moscow claims as its own territory—the latter includes Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, annexed in 2014. Russia had previously reported crossing into Dnipropetrovsk last month and now says it controls at least two villages, although Ukrainian forces have consistently denied Russian territorial gains in that region.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported intensive Russian attacks on Zelenyi Hai, with 11 strikes in 24 hours, while attempts to seize Maliivka were reportedly thwarted during 10 attacks.

In his nightly video address, President Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had identified Pokrovsk as an area needing "special attention" due to continuous assaults. Viktor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, described Russian attacks on Pokrovsk as "a small torrent...that simply does not stop."

The fighting remains intense, reflecting the persistent volatility along the eastern front despite diplomatic efforts.