Russia says forces seized village in eastern Ukraine

MOSCOW

Russia said Sunday its armed forces had seized the village of Ocheretyne in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a string of small territorial gains for Moscow.

After capturing the nearby industrial hub of Avdiivka in February, Russia has pressed its manpower and weapons advantage on the battlefield, advancing several kilometres (miles) deeper into Ukraine in places.

The defence ministry said Russian troops had "completely liberated the village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk People's Republic".

Ocheretyne is around 15 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka.

Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said last week that Kiev had pulled back from three villages in the eastern Donetsk region and was building a new line of fortifications.

Kiev has struggled amid delays to vital Western weapons supplies in recent months and hopes the arrival of U.S. arms will help it stabilise the front lines.