Russia’s defence ministry claims that its forces captured Yasnobrodivka settlement in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The embattled nation stated that no such loss took place and identified the village as one of several where its forces were defending positions.
The Russian defence ministry, in its daily report on the front, said: “As a result of decisive actions, units of the ‘centre’ group of forces liberated the Yasnoborivka settlement…and improved their tactical positions.”
Ukraine’s General Staff said the village was one of nine in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk region, west of the Russian-held town of Donetsk, where its forces had withstood more than 20 Russian attempts to advance over the past 24 hours.
The report said the Pokrovsk sector had seen the highest number of clashes along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line.
Russia’s military says it has captured a string of villages in its slow drive through Ukraine’s Donetsk region after it captured the key town of Avdiivka in February.
DeepState, a popular Ukrainian military blog, made no mention of Yasnoborivka in its frontline accounts, but reported heavy fighting in nearby areas. It said Russian forces were trying to secure control over two villages further north.
“Today is another difficult day in the area,” it said.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov urged his compatriots throughout Europe on Tuesday to sign up for a Ukrainian legion to be based in neighbouring Poland, describing it as a key step in improving battle readiness with Western help.
The creation of the unit, part of a security agreement with Poland, appeared to be a means to boost the ranks of Ukraine’s military against numerically superior Russian forces. It was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Warsaw.
Ukraine devised many schemes to increase the number of personnel levels in its forces, this includes passage of mobilization law in April. The embattled nation lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and closing loopholes against men avoiding the draft.
(With inputs from Reuters)
