ISTANBUL

Russia on Sunday claimed that it had taken control of another settlement as part of its ongoing offensive in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

A Russian Defense Ministry statement claimed that its forces had captured the village of Zaporizhzhia, located about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of the city of Pokrovsk, a key front in Moscow’s offensive actions in eastern Ukraine.

Last Sunday, the ministry claimed its forces had captured the village of Sribne, just over a kilometer east of Zaporizhzhia.

Russia has frequently claimed territorial gains in recent months, particularly in the Donetsk region, where fighting has intensified around Pokrovsk.

The city serves as a critical logistics hub for Ukraine's military in the region, which shares a border with Russia.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia’s claim, and independent verification of the claim is difficult due to the ongoing war, which started in February 2022.