Troops from the Russian Armed Forces’ Center group have taken control of the settlement of Kutuzovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, according to the Russian Defence Ministry’s June 17 briefing on the course of the special military operation in Ukraine.

The ministry said units of the Center group had taken Kutuzovka as a result of active offensive operations.

Kutuzovka is located about eight kilometres from Dobropolye. According to the 2001 population census, around 70 people lived in the village.

Russian forces are also continuing their advance in Konstantinovka. The Russian Defence Ministry said assault units had taken another 96 buildings over the past day. In the southwestern part of the city, Russian troops are clearing out encircled Ukrainian units.

In Krasny Liman, Russian servicemen continue to move forward in the northwestern part of the city. During the offensive, they took control of six Ukrainian strongholds and 61 buildings. Russian forces also carried out a precise strike with a FAB-3000 aerial bomb on what was described as the last Ukrainian supply artery in Krasny Liman: a crossing over the Seversky Donets River near Mayaki. The structure was destroyed.

According to the briefing, Russian troops destroyed a Swedish-made Ukrainian Combat Boat 90 assault landing craft over the past day. Strikes were also launched against temporary deployment points of Ukrainian units in 146 areas.

The Russian Defence Ministry said Ukrainian forces lost about 1,370 servicemen in the special military operation zone over the course of the day.