MOSCOW: Russia said on Sunday its armed forces had captured the village of Ocheretyne in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the latest in a string of small territorial gains for Moscow.
The seizure of Ocheretyne comes in the wake of Russia’s earlier capture of the industrial hub of Avdiivka in February, demonstrating Moscow’s sustained military offensive and territorial expansion in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops, leveraging their manpower and weaponry advantage, have advanced several kilometers deeper into Ukrainian territory in recent months.
The Russian defence ministry declared the “complete liberation” of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk People’s Republic, situated approximately 15 kilometers northwest of Avdiivka. This latest development underscores Russia’s continued military aggression and its efforts to consolidate control over key areas in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, reports emerged of Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa, resulting in civilian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure. Regional officials confirmed that Russian shelling in Kharkiv resulted in the tragic death of a 49-year-old man in Slobozhanske village, as well as the killing of an 82-year-old woman and injury to two men in Kharkiv city.
The missile strikes also caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure and residential buildings, with fires erupting in industrial districts and civilian enterprises. In Odesa city, three persons sustained injuries from missile strikes.
In response to the Russian attacks, the Ukrainian air force reported downing 13 Shahed drones launched by Russia towards the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions overnight. Despite successfully neutralizing the aerial threat, falling debris from the downed drones resulted in injuries and fires, including the hospitalization of a 13-year-old child and a woman.
Furthermore, Ukrainian defence systems intercepted and destroyed 23 out of 24 attack drones launched by Russia against Ukrainian territory.
