Russian forces have reportedly taken control of several towns in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials. The admission comes as fighting intensifies in eastern and northeastern parts of the country. The Ukrainian military acknowledged the loss of the towns on Wednesday, citing dense fog as a contributing factor that allowed Russian troops to advance on Ukrainian positions. Fierce battles are reportedly underway as Ukrainian units attempt to repel the ongoing Russian offensive.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the most intense fighting continues to be focused around the besieged city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where approximately half of all frontline clashes have occurred in the last 24 hours. The governor of Zaporizhzhia reported that over 600 Russian strikes targeted towns within the province during the same period. Increased combat activity has also been observed in the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman, located in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. These developments mark nearly four years since the start of the conflict, with Moscow currently controlling approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
In related news, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that the United States would refrain from actions that could further escalate the conflict. In an interview, Lavrov stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump had consistently advocated for dialogue with Russia and sought a comprehensive understanding of Russia’s position on Ukraine. Lavrov added that Trump had demonstrated a commitment to finding a lasting and peaceful resolution.
Lavrov’s comments were originally part of an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, which reportedly declined to publish the interview. According to Russian news agency TASS, Lavrov stated that Trump recognized NATO expansion and infrastructure deployment as contributing factors to Russia’s military campaign.
DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
