Moscow: Russia claimed on Saturday that its forces had taken control of more than 5,300 square km (2,046 square miles) and over 220 settlements in Ukraine since the beginning of the year.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Defense Ministry stated via Telegram that in September alone, over 670 square km and 27 settlements had come under Russian control.

The statement elaborated that Russian troops were continuing operations to establish a security zone in the border areas of Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions. In northeastern Kharkiv, Russian forces reportedly reduced Ukrainian-controlled territory by 152 square km since September 5 and captured nine settlements, resulting in approximately 700 personnel losses for Ukrainian forces.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian troops were reported to be advancing toward the city along a broad front, having taken four settlements since early September. Fighting was ongoing in central areas of Orikhiv. The ministry highlighted that the most intense fighting was occurring on the approaches to the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration, with Russian troops attacking Ukrainian defensive positions near Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka, and street fighting underway in central Dobropillia.

The ministry accused Kyiv of conducting an 'aggressive information campaign' with support from Western media and military experts to portray Ukrainian battlefield actions as major successes. Russian forces were described as "successfully" conducting operations to take Oskil, Krymky, and Studenok, with clearing operations in residential areas of Krasnyi Lyman and Sviatohirsk.

Ukraine has yet to respond to the latest Russian claims, and independent verification remains difficult due to the ongoing war.