The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian Armed Forces managed to take control of another 4 villages across the Kharkov region in the past 24 hours.
 
"The units of the Sever Group of Forces advanced deep into the enemy's defensive and liberated the settlements of Gatishche, Krasnoye, Morokhovets and Oleynikovo in the Kharkov region," the Ministry said.
 
The Russian Defense Ministry also reported that their forces neutralized approximately 100 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed two tanks near the villages of Degtyarnoye, Vovchansk, and Kozachya Lopan in the Kharkov region. Additionally, in the areas controlled by Russia's Zapad (Western) and Tsentr (Central) Groups of Forces, about 600 Ukrainian service members and a US-manufactured Abrams tank were reported lost, also within the last 24 hours.

"Units of the Western grouping of forces took more advantageous positions and hit [Ukrainian] formations ... in the areas of [the city of] Makeyevka, [the villages of] Artemovka, Dibrova of the Lugansk People's Republic [LPR], [the villages of] Yampolovka and Torskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic [DPR], as well as the Olivovsky Yar gully. Repulsed four counterattacks ... in the areas of the villages of Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People's Republic and Synkovka in the Kharkov region," the Ministry said.

"The Ukrainian army lost up to 415 service people, two tanks, including US-made Abrams, a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, a US-made Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, three vehicles, and a US-made Paladin 155-mm self-propelled artillery system," it added.

Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Yug (Southern) Group of Forces has strengthened its positions along the frontline, successfully engaging and defeating Ukrainian troops while repelling two counterattacks.

"The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the position along the front line and also defeated manpower and equipment of the 93rd mechanized, 92nd assault, 56th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces, 107th, 112th, 115th brigades of the territorial defence in the areas of Spornoye, Orekhovo-Vasylivka, Chasov Yar, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka and Kurdyumovka settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic," the Ministry said in a statement, adding that the losses of Ukrainian armed forces "amounted to up to 620 servicemen."

The Russian Defense Ministry further announced that, in turn, the Vostok (Eastern) Group of Forces has secured more advantageous positions and successfully repelled two attacks by the Ukrainian army, resulting in the elimination of up to 125 Ukrainian service members.

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"The units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more favourable positions and hit the manpower and equipment of the 58th motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army and the 128th territorial defence brigade in the areas of the villages of Volodymyrivka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Dorozhnyanka of the Zaporozhye region," the Ministry said.

Additionally, it noted that this group successfully repelled two counterattacks by Ukrainian forces in the vicinity of the villages of Staromayorskoye and Urozhainoye.
 
"Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 125 service people, three vehicles, a 155-mm US-made M777 howitzer, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit and a 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun," the Ministry noted.

'Ukraine not yet ready' for negotiations with Russia, Nuland says

Former Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, earlier on Saturday, told Politico that Ukraine lacks the necessary strength to engage in negotiations with Russia to resolve the ongoing armed conflict.

When questioned about whether it was a mistake not to encourage Kiev to pursue peace talks with Russia in 2022, she answered, "They were not in a strong enough position then. They’re not in a strong enough position now."

Any potential agreement in 2022 or presently would hinge on Russia's reluctance to relinquish any of the territories it acquired, she said, noting that such a deal would ultimately prove unsustainable.

Regarding the possibility of Ukraine retaking Crimea by force, Nuland offered a vague response, suggesting it was a decision for the Ukrainian people to make. However, she noted previous acknowledgments by US officials of the potential for Ukraine to forcefully regain control over the peninsula.

Read more: Western troops may join battlefield if 'Ukraine requests': MP