MOSCOW

Russia on Thursday claimed that its forces captured another village in Ukraine.

The units of the Tsentr (Center) group of forces took control of the settlement of Muravka in the Donetsk region, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

It said the Russian forces captured four settlements in Ukraine over the past week –three in Dnipropetrovsk region and one in Donetsk.

Over the past week, the ministry said, the Russian armed forces also carried out four group strikes using precision-guided weapons and attack drones, targeting military energy, fuel, and transportation infrastructure, arsenals, training centers for drone operators, assembly, storage, and launch sites for long-range drones as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian military units and foreign mercenaries.

Ukraine responded with air raids, the ministry said, adding that Russian air defense systems shot down four guided aerial bombs, four US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 1,667 drones over the past week.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Russia's claims and independent verification is challenging due to the ongoing conflict.