Russia Claims Control of Five Villages in Kharkiv and Donetsk Regions

The Russian Ministry of Defense declared on Saturday that its military forces have secured control over four villages in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, along with one village in the neighboring Donetsk region.

According to the ministry's daily statement, Russian troops took control of the villages of Shykivka, Novi Myr, Chernyshyna, and Druzliubivka in Kharkiv, in addition to Vasylivka in Donetsk.

This announcement coincides with conflicting reports regarding Moscow's control over Kostiantynivka in Donetsk. Russia claimed to have taken control of the city on Friday, but Kyiv denied this assertion.

Kostiantynivka is located on a strategic axis leading to the last major cities still held by Kyiv in the Donbas region.