MOSCOW

Russia claimed on Friday that another four Ukrainian settlements went under its control in different regions.

Units of the Southern group of forces took under control the settlement of Perekrestne in the Donetsk region while the Eastern group of forces captured Berezove and Kalynivske villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Sever (North) group of forces captured the village of Yunakivka in the Sumy region, the statement added.

The ministry also reported carrying out six group strikes with high-precision weapons and drones on Ukraine's military-industrial complex enterprises, military infrastructure, ammunition depots, military airfields, assembly, storage, and launch sites for long-range drones, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops, special operations forces, and foreign mercenaries.

Ukraine, for its part, responded with air raids, the ministry said, adding that over the past week the Russian air defense systems shot down 24 guided aviation bombs, five reactive shells from the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launch system, and 1,724 aircraft-type drones.