MOSCOW

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that its forces captured two villages in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

According to a ministry's statement, the operation was carried out by the Tsentr (Center) group of forces to take control of the Suvorovo, Nikanorivka villages.

The ministry added that aviation, missile, and artillery forces struck temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 136 areas.

Ukraine responded with air raids, and the Russian air defense systems shot down four projectiles from the US-made HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system, nine guided aerial bombs, and 240 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, the ministry said.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Russia's claims.