MOSCOW

Russia on Friday claimed that its forces captured another Ukrainian settlement.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the settlement of Bezimenne in the Donetsk region came under Russia's control.

In total, seven settlements went under Russia's control in three Ukrainian regions over the past week, the ministry claimed.

The Ukrainian General Staff, however, rejected some of the Russian claims, arguing that the city of Pokrovsk remains under its control and in some other areas fighting continues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that Moscow was progressing in some areas, noting that it is meeting "violent resistance."

Independent verification of claims of both sides is challenging due to the ongoing conflict.