Russian army says taken two more villages in eastern Ukraine

Above, Russian soldiers fire from a 203-mm self-propelled gun toward Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

• Moscow takes the village of Mykolaivka, as well as the settlement of Stelmakhivka in the neighboring Lugansk region

MOSCOW: Russia said Thursday that it took two more east Ukrainian villages — in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions — as its forces continue their advance deeper into the country.
The Russian defense ministry said Moscow took the village of Mykolaivka, around 15 kilometers from the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as well as the settlement of Stelmakhivka in the neighboring Lugansk region.