Moscow: Russia claimed on Friday that its forces had captured another settlement in southeastern Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the village of Verkhnia Tersa in the Zaporizhzhia region came under Moscow's control on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry also reported the capture of the villages of Shesterivka, Volokhivka, Borova, and Kutkivka in the eastern Kharkiv region over the past week. These developments mark a continuation of Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russian forces had captured around 80 settlements in 2026, including 35 in March and April, emphasizing that "the process is ongoing." However, independent verification of these claims remains challenging due to the ongoing war, now in its fifth year.