Russia Captures Two Villages in Donetsk Region
Moscow announced on August 23, 2025, that its troops had taken control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The Defence Ministry named the villages as Kleban-Byk, located northwest of Toretsk, and Seredne, closer to the border with Kharkiv region.
Ukraine’s Response
Kyiv has not confirmed Russia’s claims. Instead, Ukrainian officials reported that their forces had launched counter-operations and recaptured a nearby settlement on the edge of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Verification Challenges
Independent confirmation of either side’s battlefield claims remains unavailable. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to issue conflicting reports, highlighting the difficulties in verifying territorial changes amid ongoing heavy fighting.
