Russia on Saturday said its armed forces controlled a settlement in Zaporizhzhia while continuing offensives in Krasnoarmeysk (known as Pokrovsk in Ukraine) and Ukraine claimed downing a Russian Mi-8 helicopter by drone.
In a report released on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that its force had continued offensives in a settlement east of Krasnoarmeysk, controlling 22 buildings in a day. The Russian troops also seized a settlement in Zaporizhzhia and controlled Zvanovka in Donetsk, it said.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on the same day in a report that it had attacked one personnel assembly area and one key target of Russia.
Ukrainian troops repelled six Russian attacks in the Kupyansk direction and 23 attacks in the Lyman direction, it said.
The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces stated also on Saturday that they had shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter by drone in the Rostov region of Russia.
Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the situation on the frontline had been difficult. Despite facing pressure from the Russian army, from late August to October, Ukrainian forces launched counteroffensives in the direction of Dobropillia, northwest of Pokrovsk, halting the Russian offensives and gaining control over more than 430 square kilometers of territory north of Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his country is facing "one of the most difficult moments" in its history as it considers the U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan.
"We are now in one of the most difficult moments in our history. The pressure on Ukraine is at its heaviest. Ukraine could now face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely difficult winter," Zelensky said in his address to the nation.
Russia on Friday expressed its readiness to have a substantive discussion on the details of a new U.S.-proposed 28-point plan on ending the Ukraine crisis, while Ukraine said it is developing an alternative in coordination with European countries.
Russia claims controlling Ukrainian settlement, Ukraine says downing Mi-8 helicopter
