MOSCOW

Russian forces took control of the Vesyoloye (Vesele) settlement in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.

It said in a statement that the settlement is located in the "Donetsk direction of combat activities."

Ukrainian forces continued attempts to counterattack in many places, including with drones, it said.

"Over the past day, 91 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed," said the ministry.

Vesyoloye is important from a logistics point of view as it opens passages to other settlements and to the highway to the city of Siversk, an important transport hub.

Russia started its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.