Russian Forces Seize Two Key Towns in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia; Kyiv Reports Massive Troop Losses

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that its forces have taken control of two settlements in eastern and southern Ukraine—Privoly in the Donetsk People's Republic and Priluki in the Zaporizhzhia region. The ministry claimed that over 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers were "eliminated" across various frontlines during the latest surge in military activity.

According to a statement carried by the Sputnik news agency, units from Russia's "Southern" group captured Privoly after decisive operations. The ministry detailed heavy equipment losses for Kyiv in this sector, including an American-made M113 armored personnel carrier, a British-made 155mm Braveheart field gun, and a fuel depot.

Advances Deepen in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia’s "Eastern" group reportedly breached Ukrainian defensive lines to seize the town of Priluki. Military officials stated that Ukrainian forces lost more than 210 soldiers and five armored combat vehicles in this engagement alone.

Further north, the "Northern" group of forces claimed to have improved their tactical positions near the towns of Rozkhovichi and Khotyn in the Sumy region. Losses in this area were estimated at 170 soldiers, along with the destruction of an electronic warfare station and a supply warehouse.

A Multi-Front Offensive The Russian military report outlined a comprehensive offensive spanning multiple sectors:

Kharkiv & Donetsk: The "Western" group struck Ukrainian positions near Kupyansk and Lyman, reportedly killing over 210 troops and destroying three ammunition depots.

Central Sector: The "Center" group inflicted the highest single-sector casualties, claiming over 440 Ukrainian soldiers were lost, alongside seven armored vehicles.

Kherson: The "Dnipro" group targeted mountain assault and coastal defense brigades, resulting in 50 casualties.

Air and Missile Strikes Beyond ground movements, the Russian Air Force and drone units conducted wide-scale strikes on energy and transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian military. The Ministry of Defense stated that these strikes hit 167 separate areas, targeting ammunition plants, long-range drone storage sites, and temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries.

Russia's air defense systems also reported a high interception rate, claiming to have downed six U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, two long-range Neptune guided missiles, and 214 drones within the last 24 hours.