Istanbul: Ukraine on Tuesday denied claims that Russia took control of two settlements in its Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. A statement by Ukraine's General Staff on Telegram claimed that troops stopped Russian advances toward the village of Zaporizhske in the eastern Donetsk region and continued to control the settlement despite attempts to capture it.

According to Anadolu Agency, the statement claimed that clashes continue near the village of Novoheorhiivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region. It added that information about Russia's control of the two settlements is 'not true.'

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces took control of Zaporizhske and Novoheorhiivka on Monday and last Wednesday, respectively. However, the ongoing conflict, now extending over three-and-a-half years, makes independent verification of such claims challenging.