Russia claims two more villages in eastern Ukraine

Moscow: Russia said Thursday that it took two more east Ukrainian villages – in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions – as its forces continue their advance deeper into the country.

The defence ministry said Russian forces captured the village of Mykolaivka, around 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as well as the settlement of Stelmakhivka in the neighbouring Lugansk region.

Russian forces have been making steady and determined advances towards the logistics hub of Pokrovsk – once home to some 60,000 people – over recent months.

Outnumbered Ukrainian forces awaiting more Western military aid have struggled to hold back their assaults.

Kyiv earlier this month launched a surprise ground assault into Russia’s border region of Kursk hoping that the offensive would draw Moscow’s army away from Donetsk.

The Russian army however has focused its firepower on the industrial Donetsk region and advanced despite the Ukrainian attacks in Kursk.

Russian shelling on Nikopol in southern Ukraine meanwhile killed one person and wounded five more, regional authorities said.