The Russian military forces have taken five populated areas under their control, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, an official representative of the Russian Defence Ministry, said.

According to him, bomber and attack aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 26 military facilities in Ukraine. "Strikes against military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine continue," he said.

Igor Konashenkov said that among the destroyed facilities were two control points, a radar station, five ammunition depots and 11 weapons and military equipment staging areas.

"Units of the Russian Armed Forces have taken control of the settlements of Novoukrainskoye, Staromayorskoye, Staromlinovka, Mayorovo, and Removka. All civilians of the liberated settlements are being provided with humanitarian aid," he said.

Konashenkov said that troops of the Luhansk and Donetsk liberated 12 settlements.