The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its forces had captured three villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, pushing closer to a key Ukrainian defensive line in the embattled area.
Russian troops are making slow but steady gains in the costly fighting in eastern Ukraine. According to a statement posted on Telegram, Moscow said its forces had taken control of the settlements of Katerynivka, Volodymyrivka, and Rusyn Yar, located in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.
In response to ongoing shelling, Ukraine has cut off gas supplies to the fortified town of Kostiantynivka—located about 20 miles from the newly captured areas—after artillery fire damaged a major gas pipeline.
“Due to significant damage, it was no longer possible to maintain operational pressure in the gas supply system in Kostiantynivka,” the Donetsk regional administration said, adding that civilian evacuations from the town had begun.
