ISTANBUL

Russian forces have taken control of the village of Otradnoye in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the advance was carried out by units of the North group of forces.

“As a result of active and decisive actions, units of the North military group liberated the village of Otradnoye in the Kharkiv region,” the ministry said in a statement.

Kyiv has not yet commented on the Russian claim, which could not be independently verified.

The Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, has seen intensified fighting in recent months, with Moscow’s forces attempting to push deeper into Ukrainian territory amid ongoing counterattacks and heavy artillery exchanges.