Russia announced Thursday that it has conquered another hamlet in eastern Ukraine, where its soldiers have been making progress for days.
Russia is pushing against faltering Ukrainian forces ahead of the much-anticipated arrival of the majority of US weapons to Kyiv’s outgunned troops.
Moscow’s defence ministry stated that troops had fully liberated the settlement of Berdychi.
Kyiv said it had retreated from the settlement, located northwest of the Moscow-held town of Avdiivka, during the weekend.
Berdychi, located about 12 kilometres (7 miles) from Avdiivka, is the latest in a line of small eastern villages taken by Russia in recent weeks.
Moscow has made some progress in the area since seizing Avdiivka in February, following some of the most gruelling clashes in its more than two-year onslaught.
Ukraine announced in February that it has set up defence lines in Berdychi following the loss of the adjoining settlement of Lastochkyne.
Over the weekend, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, stated that Kyiv had withdrawn from Berdychi and two other surrounding villages to safeguard the lives and health of our defenders.
Syrsky described the area as the most complicated portion of the front and acknowledged that Russia had achieved certain tactical successes there.
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