Russia claims control of new settlement in eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have seized control of the Yasenove settlement in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

It said the center group of forces had "liberated" Yasenove, claiming that Ukraine lost about 505 soldiers, one tank, one armored vehicle, four artillery pieces and seven vehicles in the area.

"Overnight, the Russian armed forces launched a group strike with high-precision long-range land, air and sea-based weapons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles," the defense ministry said.

The attack targeted gas and energy facilities supporting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, along with sites used for the preparation and storage of strike drones.

Russian forces are continuing their advance in Yasenove, it added.

Since its special military operation, Russia has destroyed Ukrainian weapons including 653 aircraft, 42,979 drones and 592 anti-aircraft missile systems, the defense ministry said.