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Russia Says It Captures 3 More Settlements in East Ukraine
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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Russia claims control of three settlements in Ukraine's Donetsk and Sumy regions, though Ukraine disputes these claims. Kupiansk suffers severe damage.
Russia Claims Control of Three Settlements in Eastern Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian troops advancing slowly on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine have captured two settlements in Donetsk region as well as one in Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Since their failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks of the war, Russian forces have focused on capturing the Donbas in the east, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
In recent months, Moscow has also tried to advance in Sumy region, particularly after Russia's military said it had ousted Ukrainian troops from the Russian border region of Kursk.
A Russian Defence Ministry statement said its forces had captured the village of Stupochky in Donetsk region, east of Kostiantynivka, a town under recent Russian pressure.
It also said it had taken control of Otradne, a village further west along the 1,000-km front and announced the capture of Loknya, a village inside the Russian border in Sumy region.
The general staff of Ukraine's military acknowledged no such losses, referring to Otradne as one of several towns where Ukrainian troops had halted 18 frontline Russian attacks. It referred to Stupochky earlier this week as part of an area under Russian attack.
For months, Ukraine has reported attempts by Russian forces to occupy areas of Sumy region, but has never acknowledged the capture of any of them.
Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side.
Ukraine's popular DeepState military blog, which uses open source reports, said Russian forces had for the first time "been able to take up positions" along a line of border villages.
Russia's Defence Ministry on Friday announced the capture of Radkivka, a village outside the northeastern city of Kupiansk, which has been under pressure for months.
On Saturday, Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin said the attacks were taking a toll, including two city workers killed on Friday.
"We are seeing awful losses among our people, our colleagues who give their lives so the city can go on living," Besedin told national television. "Sadly, as of now, the city is 90% destroyed."
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Ron Popeski and David Gregorio)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia claims control of three settlements in Ukraine.
- •The captured areas are in Donetsk and Sumy regions.
- •Ukraine's military has not acknowledged these losses.
- •Kupiansk faces severe destruction amid ongoing attacks.
- •The conflict continues with significant human toll.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine
1What settlements did Russia claim to have captured?
Russia claimed to have captured the village of Stupochky in Donetsk region, Otradne further west, and Loknya in the Sumy region.
2How has Ukraine responded to these claims?
Ukraine's military has not acknowledged the losses, stating that Ukrainian troops had halted several Russian attacks in the area.
3What is the current situation in Kupiansk?
Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin reported that the city is facing severe attacks, resulting in significant destruction and casualties among city workers.
4What has been the focus of Russian military efforts recently?
Since their failed advance on Kyiv, Russian forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas region, particularly the Donetsk and Luhansk areas.
5What sources are used for reporting on the battlefield situation?
Reuters noted that it could not independently verify battlefield accounts, but referenced Ukraine's DeepState military blog, which uses open-source reports.
