Russian Forces Capture Another Village in Eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have captured another village in their ongoing offensive in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. According to the Russian defence ministry, the village of Pivdenne, located on the outskirts of Toretsk, has been “liberated” by Russian forces.

Before Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in 2022, Pivdenne had a population of around 1,400, according to Ukrainian government estimates. Moscow has claimed to have taken a string of villages in the Donetsk region in recent weeks, many of which consist of just a few streets.

Russia claimed to have annexed the Donetsk region, along with three others in eastern and southern Ukraine, in 2022, despite not fully controlling it. The region has been a key target for Russian forces, with its troops closing in on Toretsk, a town that was once home to around 30,000 people.

Pivdenne, which Russia also referred to as Leninske, is approximately six kilometres southeast of Toretsk. The village’s capture marks another significant milestone in Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.

Source: AFP