Last Update: February 19, 2023, 00:09 IST
Ukrainian soldiers rest near a tank while their colleagues carry out repairs in the Kupiansk region of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine (Reuters photo for representation)
In September, Russian troops retreated from major cities in the region northeast of Kharkiv, including the major rail hub of Kupyansk.
Russia on Saturday claimed control of a small village near the major city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s northeastern region.
“The settlement of Grynikovka … was completely liberated,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement, referring to the Ukrainian village with the Russian name.
Gryanykivka was home to about 600 people before the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February.
In September, Russian troops retreated from major cities in the region northeast of Kharkiv, including the major rail hub of Kupyansk.
Kupiansk is near the front line in eastern Ukraine and locals fear it could be retaken.
The Ukrainian military said earlier on Saturday that Russian troops were carrying out “offensive actions” in several towns including the eastern city of Kupyansk and Bakhmut, the scene of the longest and bloodiest fighting of the war so far.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)