Russian Forces Claim Control of Two Villages Surpassing Dobropillia Amid Escalating Tensions

On Wednesday, Russia’s military announced that it had taken control of two villages near Dobropillia, a former coal mining town in eastern Ukraine that remains under Ukrainian military oversight.

Russia’s Defense Ministry declared in a statement that the settlements of Suvorovo and Nikanorivka, located in the Donetsk People’s Republic, have been «liberated,» referring to the partly occupied Donetsk region.

Both villages are situated approximately 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Dobropillia.

In recent days, Russia has rapidly advanced in this region, breaching Ukrainian defenses ahead of an anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The reported territorial gains for the Russian military on Tuesday marked the most significant progress in a single day in over a year, according to an analysis by AFP based on data from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War.

Last month, Ukrainian officials ordered the evacuation of families with children from Dobropillia. This town, which had a population of around 28,000 before the war, is now subjected to ongoing drone and artillery attacks by Russian forces.