Russia, Ukraine Both Claim Battlefield Successes In Eastern Regions As Drone Attacks Persist

"Russian troops have taken control of two more settlements near the front line in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, Russia's Defense Ministry said on August 23 after Russia again hit Ukraine with another barrage of drones overnight. The ministry said the villages of Kleban-Byk, northwest of the town of Toretsk, and Seredne, closer to the administrative border of the northeastern Kharkiv region, are now in Russian control."

"The statement came after the ministry on August 22 announced the capture of three villages in its slow advance across the Donetsk region. Two of the villages -- Katerynivka and Rusyn Yar -- are located near Kostyantynivka, a fortified town on the road to Kramatorsk, where a major Ukrainian logistics base is located. Russia's claims could not be independently verified, and Ukraine's military did not acknowledge that any of the villages had changed hands."

"The Ukrainian military said its forces had recaptured a settlement on the western edge of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukraine's HUR military spy agency said it had conducted a joint operation with military units to halt advances in the Donetsk region as well as attempts to break through into Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukrainian military officials on August 23 said Kyiv's forces had stopped a Russian advance and recaptured the village of Zeleny Gai in the Donetsk region."

Russian forces claimed control of Kleban-Byk and Seredne near the Donetsk frontline after an overnight barrage of drones. The Defense Ministry had earlier announced capture of three villages, including Katerynivka and Rusyn Yar near Kostyantynivka, on a slow advance toward Kramatorsk. Those claims could not be independently verified and Ukraine did not acknowledge territorial losses, though Ukraine reported attacks on some localities. Ukrainian intelligence and military units said they halted advances, recaptured a settlement in western Dnipropetrovsk and reclaimed Zeleny Gai in Donetsk. A fire continued to burn at the Novoshakhtynsk oil refinery in Russia's Rostov region after a reported strike.

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