MOSCOW, Feb 24

Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine said on Thursday they had captured the towns of Shchastia and Stanytsia Luhanska in Ukraine's region of Luhansk, the RIA news agency reported.

Related Articles

Service members of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces take part in tactical drills at a training ground in an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released February 18, 2022. Photo: Press Service of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces/Handout via Reuters

Ukraine reports a soldier killed in separatists shelling

File - In this photo taken from video and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, Russian soldiers attend a military training at the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

More than 30 Russian ships start drills near Crimea: RIA

There was no immediate comment by authorities in Ukraine.