As the EU agrees to extend sanctions on Russia by another six months, the Russian Defence Ministry has said its forces have occupied the east Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region,

Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that Russian troops have fought their way into the center of a strategically important eastern Ukraine town and raised the Russian flag there after a monthslong battle

Ukraine’s 110th Mechanized Brigade acknowledged a withdrawal from parts of the village to avoid encirclement but claimed that fighting is ongoing elsewhere in Velyka Novosilka.

Putin’s forces claim capture of strategic town as Zelensky makes demand for Trump talks to end war - Separate Mechanised Brigade confirms withdrawing strategically from some area to avoid encirclement

Russia on Sunday claimed its troops had captured a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine, as part of a grinding campaign to weaken Kyiv’s grip on the country’s industrial heartland

Continuing their relentless advance on the Ukrainian front lines, Russian forces have captured the town of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region. Moscow's Defense Ministry stated that Russian troops had "liberated" the settlement,