ISTANBUL

Russia on Saturday claimed its troops had seized control of two more settlements in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as part of its ongoing military campaign.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units of the “East” military group captured the village of Novopil in the eastern Donetsk region, while the “North” group took control of Vodolahy in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow has increased its claims of battlefield progress in recent months, particularly in Donetsk, where it has focused much of its offensive efforts.

The ministry claimed Friday that its forces had taken control of 13 settlements in Ukraine over the past week, with major advances reported in the Donetsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials, and independent verification of the Russian claims remains difficult due to the scale and fluidity of fighting across the front lines.