The Russian defence ministry has announced that its army has taken control of the Zelenovka and Novy Komar districts in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

The Russian army is advancing on the front line,’ it said in a statement on Thursday, adding that ‘forces of the Eastern Military Group have taken control of the Zelenovka and Novy Komar districts of the Donetsk region’.

Since the start of the war, the Russian army has destroyed 650 planes, 283 helicopters, more than 38,000 drones, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,844 tanks and armoured vehicles, the statement said.

Since 24 February 2020, Russia has been waging a military offensive in Ukraine, demanding that Kiev “abandon” NATO membership, which Kiev sees as “interference” in its affairs.