Russian Forces Capture Villages in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk Regions

Russian forces have claimed significant territorial gains in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions amid ongoing conflict. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of the village of Verbove in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, although Ukrainian officials have not confirmed this, and Kyiv described Russian presence in the region as 'declarative.' In eastern Donetsk, Russia reported seizing the villages of Shandryholove and Zarichne, which are strategically important for their westward advance. Despite these claims, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted progress in a counter-offensive near Dobropillia, reflecting a fluid and contested front. Russia also claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian forces, including the destruction of military equipment and infrastructure. The international community continues to closely monitor the evolving situation due to its implications for regional stability.