Ukraine’s gains, announced in social media posts and statements by its military, couldn’t be independently verified. Russia’s defence ministry called the situation fluid. “Nothing extraordinary is happening,” Vladimir Rogov, a Russian occupation official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram.

The villages, Blahodatne and Neskuchne, are in the Donetsk region near the border with Russia. Russia’s defence ministry said earlier on Sunday that it had repelled an attack by Ukrainian speedboats on one of its Black Sea naval vessels.

Evacuations continue in flooded regions of Kherson after the Nova Kakhovka dam was destroyed almost a week ago, causing a humanitarian and environmental disaster. Russian soldiers were again reported to have attacked civilians involved in rescue efforts. Three people were killed and another 10 were injured when their small boat came under fire, the region’s governor said on Telegram.