Russia says it captures three more settlements in east Ukraine

Sat May 24 21:30:29 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Russian forces have reportedly captured three settlements: Stupochky and Otradne in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, and Loknya in the Sumy region, located inside Russia’s border. While the Russian Ministry of Defence announced these gains, Ukrainian military officials did not confirm them, only acknowledging heavy Russian attacks in those areas. Fierce fighting continues, particularly around Kupiansk, where shelling has caused significant destruction and loss of life.

**News Article:**

**Russian Forces Claim Advances in Eastern Ukraine, Kyiv Remains Mum**

**MOSCOW, May 25, 2025 (The Hindu) -** Russian troops are claiming territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, specifically in the contested Donetsk region. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that its forces captured the villages of Stupochky and Otradne, east of Kostiantynivka, an area facing sustained Russian pressure. They also claim to have captured Loknya, a village inside the Russian border in Sumy region.

While Moscow celebrated these advancements, Ukrainian military officials have not confirmed the losses. Kyiv acknowledges that Russian forces are attacking several towns, including Otradne, but assert they are halting these advances. Regarding Stupochky, Ukrainian officials referenced that it was under Russian attack earlier in the week.

The battle for Kupiansk continues to be fierce, with the city’s mayor, Andrii Besedin, reporting heavy shelling and significant losses, including the deaths of two city workers on Friday. “We are seeing awful losses among our people, our colleagues who give their lives so the city can go on living,” Besedin said. He estimates that 90% of the city is destroyed.

These latest reports suggest that Russian troops are slowly advancing, particularly after failing to secure Kyiv. The focus of the Russian military is now the Donbas region, which is made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The accuracy of these battlefield claims remains difficult to independently verify.

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