Russia captures 2 settlements in Ukraine in 24 hours: defense ministry

18/03/2026

Firefighters put out a fire at a private house following a Russian drone attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on March 16. (AP)

MOSCOW, March 18, Xinhua): Russian forces have taken control of the settlements of Kaleniki in the Donetsk region and Sopych in the Sumy region over the past 24 hours during a special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

According to the ministry, units of the Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes on 149 areas, targeting energy and transport infrastructure facilities used to support the Ukrainian army's operations, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.

Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 421 Ukrainian drones and seven guided aerial bombs during the period, it added.