"Units of Battlegroup Tsentr have taken control of the settlements of Petrovskogo and Alekseevka in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia's units of Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated up to 500 Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"The enemy's losses amounted up to 500 servicepeople, five armored combat vehicles, including a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, four vehicles and six artillery pieces," the ministry said.
Russia's Battlegroup Vostok has eliminated more than 205 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated over 240 Ukrainian troops, the ministry added.