The Donetsk and Kharkiv regions remain focal points along the 1,000km front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Moscow:
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Monday that its forces had taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine.
It was the second day in a row that Moscow announced the capture of new locations. Ukrainian military statements denied, at least in part, the Russian claim.
The Russian ministry said in a statement that its forces controlled the settlement of Stepova Novoselivka, in the Kharkiv region, and Novopokrovske, in the Donetsk region.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an overnight report, said its troops repelled 17 attacks in the Kupiansk sector near Kharkiv, including by Stepova Novoselivka. He said fighting was taking place near Synkivka, further west.
Russia has announced a series of incremental gains since capturing the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in February.
The Donetsk and Kharkiv regions remain focal points along the 1,000 km (600 mi) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military previously said it repelled Russian attacks near two towns in the Donetsk region – Novooleksandrivka and Spirne, a day after Russian forces claimed control of them. The overnight report said fighting continued near both locations.
The evening report identified the Pokrovsk front as the scene of the fiercest fighting. Forty-four Russian attacks have been repelled in the last 24 hours, with 14 clashes still ongoing.
The military said Russia maintains a military presence across the border of the Chernihiv and Sumy regions in northern Ukraine, adding that Moscow forces are increasing the density of minefields and carrying out sabotage activities.
That area is under scrutiny for any sign that Russia plans to open a new front to pressure Ukraine’s outnumbered defenders.
Russia launched an attack on the border areas northeast of Kharkiv in May, opening a new front in a full-scale invasion that lasted 28 months.
The latest Ukrainian report states that Kiev troops controlled the area and repelled 11 Russian attacks near three towns, including Vovchansk, 5 km from the border.
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