Russia claim the capture of another village in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region as fighting rages
Russia has claimed the capture of another village in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Saturday as fighting continues to rage in the country.
Moscow's forces are reportedly advancing towards the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
The Russian Defense Ministry said their forces had “liberated” a village named Lozuvatska, about 24 kilometers away from the city of Pokrovsk.
However, Ukraine has not confirmed the village’s capture. Instead, Kyiv said on Saturday that they had halted 37 Russian attacks in that area.
Russian forces also reportedly attacked the town of Hlukhiv in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. The attack killed a child and injured 14, including seven children, according to local authorities.
Local media say Russia used multiple launch rocket systems against the town to damage high-rise buildings, houses, vehicles and an educational institution.
Also on Saturday, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the European Union was sliding towards oblivion over the conflict during a speech in Baile Tusnad, Romania.
The far-right leader’s remarks come amid growing criticism from his European partners after he embarked on rogue “peace mission” trips to Moscow and Beijing earlier this month aimed at brokering an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Brussels is criticising me, but they actually support this war,” he said, “After all, I am criticised for not giving support to the EU in its effort to support the war.”
Orbán is widely considered to have the warmest relations with the Kremlin among all EU leaders.
Throughout Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, Orbán has broken with other EU leaders by refusing to provide Kyiv with weapons to defend against Russian forces and has routinely delayed, watered down, or blocked efforts to send financial aid to Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow.
Orbán also alleged that the US was behind the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines built to carry gas from Russia to Germany. He didn't offer any evidence to back up the claim however.
