Russia says its forces take control of three more villages in eastern Ukraine

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had taken control of three more villages in eastern Ukraine, one in the Dnipropetrovsk region and two in the northeastern Kharkiv region, closer to the Russian border.



The Ukrainian military noted fighting around at least two of the settlements, but made no acknowledgement that any of them had changed hands.



Reuters could not independently confirm battlefield accounts from either side.



According to the Russian ministry, Moscow's troops took control of Pryvillia in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Moscow's forces have established a foothold in recent weeks.



Also captured were the villages of Pishchane, near the virtually destroyed town of Kupiansk that Russia sees as a target in its drive westward, and Tykhe, just inside the border with Russia.