Russia Claims Control of Village Near Toretsk, Eight Dead in Overnight Strikes
Russia announced on Saturday that its forces had captured a village near the eastern flashpoint city of Toretsk in Ukraine, while Kyiv reported that at least eight people had died in overnight Russian attacks.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its troops had seized the village of Krymske, located in the northeastern suburbs of Toretsk in the eastern Donetsk region, an area that has witnessed intense fighting in recent months.
Despite heavy human and material losses, the Russian military continues its gradual but steady advance in Donetsk.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces reported fierce battles in the urban areas of Toretsk and Chasiv Yar, a strategically important military hub on a hilltop along the front line.
According to DeepState, a group of Ukrainian military analysts, Russian forces have been engaged in combat in the centers of both contested cities for the past two months.
Overnight Strikes Kill Eight in Ukraine
Overnight, at least eight people were killed in Russian airstrikes across central and eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities issued air raid alerts across the country shortly before 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Saturday, warning of missile and drone threats in multiple regions.
Emergency services reported on Telegram that a missile strike on a residential building in Poltava killed at least four people and wounded 13, three of them seriously.
Images released by emergency responders showed firefighters combing through the smouldering ruins of the building.
In Kharkiv, a Russian drone shot down by air defenses crashed onto a residential area, killing a woman and injuring four others, according to regional governor Oleg Synegubov on Telegram.
A Russian airstrike also targeted a border municipality in the northeastern Sumy region, killing three police officers, the regional administration reported.
Separate Russian attacks in the southern Kherson region resulted in two fatalities, according to local police.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its overnight strikes had targeted gas and energy infrastructure crucial to Ukraine’s military-industrial complex.
Ukrainian President Calls for More Defense Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, emphasizing that his country needed more defense systems to protect itself from "Russian terror."
"Every air defense system, every anti-missile system is a lifesaver," Zelensky said. "It is crucial that our partners act... and increase pressure on Russia."
Zelensky added that damages had been reported in six regions: Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
Earlier this week, Ukraine launched a major drone strike on western Russia, resulting in the deaths of a child and his mother, as well as a refinery fire.
Three-Year Anniversary of Russian Invasion
Russia's invasion of Ukraine will reach its third anniversary this month.
During his election campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office on January 20. He has criticized the amount Washington has spent on arming Ukraine and has also threatened additional sanctions against Russia.
With AFP
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