dpa
Kiev
The Russian army on Sunday claimed to have gained complete control of the Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne, located in the eastern region of Donetsk.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said that the capture of the settlement had improved its tactical situation along the front.
The Ukrainian military had previously reported a breakthrough by the Russians near Ochernetyne and stated that the enemy troops had established themselves in the small village. Observers assume that the Russian army now wants to advance to the nearby town of Chasiv Yar.
Ukraine has been fighting against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two years. Among Russia’s objectives in the war is to conquer the entire Donetsk region, which Russia illegally annexed but does not fully control.
Russian attacks on Ukraine have included repeated airstrikes on cities throughout the country. On Sunday, the Ukrainian military said that air defences managed to shoot down 23 of 24 combat drones launched by Russia overnight.
The regional military administrator, Oleh Sinegubov, said in a post on Telegram that several explosions shook residential areas in the city centre.
In both Russia and Ukraine, many Orthodox Christians were celebrating Easter on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the holiday by offering words of encouragement and unity to Ukrainians as the country faces its third Easter at war on Sunday.
God is on Ukraine’s side, Zelensky said, and “with an ally like that, life will definitely triumph over death.” He also called for people to be united in a “common prayer” for the Ukrainian soldiers who will once again have to spend Easter in the trenches at the war’s front line.
