MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Russian forces have taken control of five populated localities, namely, Stepovaya Novosyolka in the Kharkov region and Spornoye, Shumy, Novoalexandrovka and Novopokrovskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"Units from the western group of forces have taken control of Stepovaya Novosyolka in the Kharkov region as a result of successful operations," the ministry said in a statement.
Units from the southern group of forces took control of Spornoye and the Novy neighborhood of Chasov Yar in the DPR, it said.
The central group of forces took control of Shumy, Novoalexandrovka and Novopokrovskoye in the DPR, it said.