FILE - A police officer searches for parts of a missile at a site of a building damaged by a Russian strike, in Zaporizhzhia, Sept. 3, 2024. The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday its forces “liberated” the village of Levadne, and occupied better positions in the area.

Russia says it seized village in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region 

by · Voice of America

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday its troops captured the village of Levadne, in the Zaporizhzhia region, more than a year after Ukrainian forces had retaken the area following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Russian ministry said its forces “liberated” the village and occupied better positions in the area.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on Telegram that Russian forces had shelled the area, but did not say anything about a change in control.

Levadne is located in a part of southeastern Ukraine that Russia occupied shortly after launching its invasion in early 2022.

A Ukrainian offensive in June 2023 brought Levadne and other villages back under Ukrainian control.

Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.