The Russian Ministry of Defense reported – today, Sunday – that the forces Russian It took control of the village of Krokhmalny in the Kharkiv region bUkraineA Ukrainian army spokesman confirmed the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the village, while two explosions caused a fire at a Russian gas station.
This limited progress to control Krokhmalny came after a similar statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense – on Thursday – in which it said that Russian forces took control of the Vaysle residential community in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
Russia is intensifying offensive pressure around towns in eastern Ukraine, such as Kubyansk, Liman, and Avdiivka, despite achieving modest gains so far.
Moscow says its forces have regained the initiative in many areas after a failed counterattack launched by Ukraine last year against the Russian war that began in 2022.
For his part, Ukrainian military spokesman Volodymyr Vityu told national television that Russia's seizure of Krokhmalny has no impact on the overall situation.
Vitio said, “Our main goal is to save the lives of those in charge of the defense mission in our ranks. They were transferred to pre-prepared positions, where they are now clinging to the defenses to prevent the enemy from advancing further.”
He added that Krokhmalny contained 5 houses and was inhabited by only 45 people before the outbreak of war, and that the Russian forces’ seizure of several hundred meters had no repercussions, describing the matter as a “temporary phenomenon.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Information Agency reported, citing local officials, that two explosions caused a fire at a station belonging to the Russian company Novatek, the largest producer of liquefied natural gas in Russia, on… Baltic Sea.
Novatek said the fire was caused by an external factor, and was contained to a 100 cubic meter fuel warehouse.
The governor of the region said that there were no casualties, the employees were evacuated, and a high alert system was implemented in the area. He added that the Russian Emergencies Ministry and local firefighting units attended to put out the fire.
Ukrainian attack
The number of victims of an attack on the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Donetsk in the region rose to 25 dead and 20 wounded, after the Ukrainian army launched an attack on a market in the city earlier today.
Alexei Kolmzin, the Russian-appointed mayor of Donetsk, also stated that Ukrainian forces bombed a crowded area where shops and a market are located.
In turn, Donetsk Mayor Alexei Kolymzin described the attack as horrific, and accused the Ukrainian army of taking revenge on the defenseless residents of Donetsk because of its failures on the battle fronts with the Russian army.
Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson according to a decree signed by the president. Vladimir Putinon September 30, 2022.
Russian Defense also stated in a previous statement – Sunday – that the Russian army thwarted a Ukrainian attack with drones on Russian territory.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched Military operation In Ukraine, the condition for ending it is that Kiev abandons plans to join military entities, which the latter considers an interference in its sovereignty.