ISTANBUL

Russia claimed on Sunday that its forces have captured another settlement in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow continues to claim advances.

According to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Novoselivka Persha, which is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Yevhenivka, which Moscow claimed it captured last week.

The village is also about 28 kilometers (17.3 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk city, a key front in the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has been raging for more than two years.

Its forces "defeated" Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Hlushkivka, Sinkivka, Staritsa, Tabaivka, and Vovchansk in northeastern Kharkiv, according to the statement.

Ukrainian authorities have yet to respond to Moscow's claims, and independent verification of what Russia says is difficult due to the ongoing war.

Since early May, Russian forces have been attempting to breach Ukraine's defenses in the Kharkiv region, opening a new front in the conflict that had hitherto been concentrated in the country's east and south.

Clashes in the region have intensified since then, particularly near Vovchansk, located about 74 kilometers (45 miles) from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, which has also been targeted by Russian airstrikes.

Russia claims to have taken control of several border settlements since the start of its offensive on the Kharkiv front, as well as other fronts, including Donetsk and Luhansk.​​​​​​​