Russia's top military commander, Valery Gerasimov, informed troops in Ukraine that Kremlin forces had captured 12 eastern villages in the first two weeks of February, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Gerasimov, the army chief, visited Moscow's forces fighting in Ukraine, where he delivered the update amid ongoing hostilities. His statement highlighted the advances made by combined forces and military units of the joint task force.
“In two weeks of February, despite severe winter conditions, combined forces and military units of the joint task force liberated 12 settlements,” Gerasimov said, as reported by the defence ministry on Sunday.
The visit and announcement come days before US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Geneva aimed at ending almost four years of war. The timing also precedes the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale offensive against Ukraine.
Agence France-Presse could not independently verify the claims of seized settlements in eastern Ukraine.
