Kremlin claims capture of two key eastern Ukrainian villages

Russian military forces have claimed control over two settlements in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to statements released by the Russian Defence Ministry via state media.

The ministry reported that its troops captured Vasyutinske, located near Kramatorsk, alongside Toretsk, situated southwest of Druzhkivka. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the loss of either location, and battlefield reports remain unverified independently.

While frontlines across the 1,200-kilometre border have experienced minimal overall shifts in recent months, Russian forces continue an incremental westward push through the region.

Ukrainian war-monitoring group DeepState reported additional Russian advances near Illinivka outside Kostiantynivka, as well as movements near Chasiv Yar, west of Bakhmut.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that its troops successfully repelled 24 individual assaults around Kostiantynivka and Illinivka. Russian commanders previously claimed control of Kostiantynivka, a statement contested by Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not address frontline shifts directly in his nightly address, but commended Ukrainian units engaged in heavy combat around Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka, and Kramatorsk.