MOSCOW

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Wednesday that Russian forces took over two more settlements in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

The ministry said the villages of Antonivka and Maksymivka fell under Russia's control as a result of an operation carried out by its Yug (South) and Vostok (East) groups of forces.

Other Russian units improved their positions, destroying and taking Western-made weapons and military equipment as trophies, the ministry reported.

"In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 35,298 drones, 585 air defense, 19,063 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,484 multiple rocket launchers, 17,368 field artillery and mortars, 28,010 special military vehicles have been destroyed," it said.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Russia's claims, and independent verification is challenging due to ongoing combat activities.