Russian forces have taken control of Petropavlovka and Lozovaya in the Kharkov Region, as well as Maryino in the Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on September 26.

According to the ministry, Petropavlovka and Lozovaya came under Russian control as troops expanded the outer control zone. The ministry said taking the two settlements complicates Ukrainian attempts to break through the encirclement ring in the Kharkov Region.

In the Sumy Region, units of Russia’s Sever Group of Forces continued active offensive operations and took control of Maryino.

In total, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that three settlements in the Kharkov and Sumy regions came under Russian control.