Russia Claims 19 Settlements Captured in Southeastern Ukraine Over Summer
Russia's Defense Ministry says its forces took control of 19 settlements in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions during a summer campaign, though frontline advances have slowed this year.
Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that its troops had gained control of 19 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions of southeastern Ukraine during their summer campaign. The claim was based on a report from Pyotr Bolgarev, commander of the eastern group of forces, though the ministry did not disclose which settlements were involved.
In a separate statement, the ministry said its forces had also recently taken the settlement of Rybalskoye in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to the Interfax news agency. Reuters said it was unable to independently verify these battlefield claims.
Slower Pace on the Front
Despite continued Russian territorial gains this year, the pace of advance has slowed compared to earlier periods. At the same time, Moscow has stepped up ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had recaptured 745 square kilometers (288 square miles) of Russian-held territory this year along the southeastern front.
Claims from both sides regarding frontline developments remain difficult to verify independently.
