"The Ukrainian paramilitary forces, after suffering significant losses, left their positions occupied for a long time and retreated to reserve positions, located to the northwest of the settlement," Marochko said, citing his sources.
The Ukrainian troops retreated after the Russian armed forces dealt a heavy blow to their positions, the military expert added.
In a separate incident, an elderly woman born in 1937 received a "shrapnel wound to the chest" after Ukrainian forces fired three 155-mm munitions at the Petrovsky district of the city of Donetsk, Mayor Alexey Kulemzin said on Telegram.