Russian Forces Advance in Ukraine, Capturing Key Villages

Russia's Defence Ministry announced the capture of Pavlivka in Zaporizhzhia and Ivanivka in Dnipropetrovsk. The ministry also reported strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, citing retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets. Ukrainian sources reported six casualties from overnight Russian strikes.

In a strategic development, Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed on Wednesday the capture of two villages in Ukraine's southeast: Pavlivka in the Zaporizhzhia region and Ivanivka in the adjoining Dnipropetrovsk region.

The ministry's statement, shared on Telegram, noted that Russian forces had targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure in retaliation for alleged Ukrainian assaults on Russian civilian areas.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes during the night claimed six lives, escalating the ongoing military tensions between the two nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)