MOSCOW

Russia on Tuesday claimed to have taken control of Ukraine's settlement of Orlivka in the Donetsk region.

The settlement is located in the vicinity of the city of Avdiivka that went under Russia's control in February, the Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukrainian forces tried to counterattack six times over the past day to take the settlement back.

"In the Avdiivka direction, units of the Center group of troops liberated the settlement of Orlivka in the Donetsk People's Republic and improved the situation along the front edge," it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that troops were forced to retreat in some directions due to ammunition shortage. Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine two years ago.

The ministry said that over the past day 143 Ukrainian drones were shot down, besides 38 rockets from HIMARS, Vampire, Grad and Olkha multiple rocket launchers.

It added that Ukraine's strongholds in forests near Belgorod and Kursk border regions, used for launching attacks by sabotage groups, were discovered and destroyed.

Last week, Ukrainian sabotage groups attempted several attacks on Belgorod and Kursk.