Russian troops have taken control of Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Kommunarovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

Torskoye was captured by units of Russia’s Center group of forces. During the fighting, Russian troops struck formations from two mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault regiment, two marine brigades and three Ukrainian National Guard brigades.

Combat operations took place near Ivanovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, as well as Dobropolye, Rubezhnoye, Novotroitskoye, Sergeyevka, Svetloye and Novonikolayevka in the DPR.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian formations lost up to 365 servicemen, three armored combat vehicles and three other vehicles.

Meanwhile, units of the East group of forces took Kommunarovka. Russian troops attacked positions held by two assault brigades, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments and a Ukrainian marine brigade.

The strikes targeted Ukrainian forces near Pismennoye and Velikomikhailovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, along with Novosoloshino, Zarnitsa, Dolinka, Shirokoye and Nikolskoye in the Zaporozhye Region.

The ministry put Ukrainian losses in this sector at up to 380 servicemen. Three armored combat vehicles, 16 other vehicles and one artillery gun were also destroyed.

War correspondent Alexander Kots said the capture of Torskoye had brought the Center group closer to Druzhkovka. The village stands on the Kazenny Torets River, about eight kilometers from the city.

He noted that Russian forces had advanced steadily through this sector over the past year, moving through Novopavlovka, Pavlovka and Priyut.

According to Kots, the group is now approaching the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk hub from the west while advancing along the Kazenny Torets. He identified Rayskoye, Novoigorevka and Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka as the next settlements on the route toward Druzhkovka.

Kommunarovka lies about 12 kilometers west of Pokrovskoye, within the bridgehead being expanded by the East group.

Kots described Pokrovskoye as the main objective in this sector because of its position on the N-15 Zaporozhye-Donetsk highway. Russian units are approaching the settlement from the southwest, taking nearby villages one after another and disrupting supplies to Ukrainian formations.