Ukrainian military pulls back from areas in the east

The Ukrainian military said on Friday its forces had pulled back from the area around Uspenivka and Trudove villages in the eastern region of Donetsk to avoid being encircled by advancing Russian troops.

With the war now in its 33rd month, the Ukrainian forces are engaged in intense defensive battles and are stretched thin as the Russians press forward along the front line.

"The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has decided to withdraw the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the area in question to avoid encirclement," Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces said on Telegram.

Military units had avoided being surrounded and would continue to operations in the Kurakhove-Konstantinopolske area, a statement said.

Ukraine's General Staff reported 18 battles on the Kurakhove front in the past day with Russian forces attempting to advance to the north of the town.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday its forces had taken control of two more settlements in Donetsk region, Uspenivka and Novopustynka. It claimed control of Trudove on Wednesday.