Moscow: Russia announced on Tuesday that its military forces have seized control of 80 settlements and over 1,700 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the year.
According to Anadolu Agency, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov detailed that Russian forces captured 34 settlements and approximately 700 square kilometers of territory in March and April alone. He also stated that the eastern Luhansk region of Ukraine is now under complete Russian control.
Gerasimov reported advancements in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantynivka fortified area, with six settlements taken in March and the settlement of Dibrova captured in April. Russian troops are reportedly progressing on several fronts, creating what Gerasimov referred to as a security zone in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions. In March, 15 settlements were seized, and Vovchanski Khutory and Zybine in the Kharkiv region were captured in April.
The heaviest combat is occurring in Krasnyi Lyman, where Russian forces reportedly control about 70% of the city. According to Gerasimov, Russian forces have also taken control of the settlements of Hryshyne and Pavlivka in the Donetsk region.
Some Russian units are reportedly establishing a 'security zone' in the Dnipropetrovsk region, with ongoing battles for control of Novopavlivka. Gerasimov claimed that over 75% of this area is under Russian control. In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces are continuing their offensive west of Huliaipole, capturing Boikove and Luhivske, and advancing toward the city of Zaporizhzhia, with the capture of Veselianka.
Ukraine has not yet responded to these claims, and independent verification remains challenging due to the ongoing conflict.