"1300 Ukrainian Troops wiped out" Russia has claimed fresh battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine, saying its forces captured two more settlements in the Donetsk region as fighting intensifies. According to Russia's Defence Ministry, Battlegroup South captured Nikolaipolye, while Battlegroup Center took control of Matyashevo through what Moscow described as "active" and "decisive" operations. Moscow also claimed Ukrainian forces suffered around 1,390 casualties over the past 24 hours and said Russian strikes targeted Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure, transport networks, drone storage facilities and troop deployment areas across 147 locations.