Soldiers from the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully carried out assault operations that led to the complete liberation of the villages of Zolotyi Kolodiaz and Petrivka in the Donetsk region from Russian occupation.

Small groups of Russian troops have pierced parts of Ukraine’s defenses in its eastern Donetsk region, according to local officials, as Russia appears to be making an 11th-hour dash to snatch as much territory as possible ahead of the planned meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday.

Ukrainian troops recapture the villages of Hruzke, Rubizhne, Novovodiane, Petrivka, Vesele, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, according to General Staff - Anadolu Ajansı

In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Putin's forces have made a lot of gains since November last year. As of now, Russia controls around 70 per cent of Donetsk, but most of its western cities are under the control of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy maintained his unrelenting stand on the Donbas region even hours before the Trump meeting in the US. As of now, he has no plans to submit to Putin's demand for territory control.

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on that the situation in Donetsk remains "extremely difficult" but said Ukrainian forces have achieved some gains.

(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region as a condition for ending Russia's war but told U.S. President Donald Trump he could freeze the rest of the frontline if his core demands were met,

Explosions were heard in different districts of the city, reports mentioned fire. There is no official confirmation of the attack yet. Read also: ・Drone barrage hits Russian-occupied Donetsk ・Critical water shortage hits occupied Donetsk We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world.

The General Staff said Russian forces suffered significant losses in the area, including 910 killed, 335 wounded, and 37 captured.