Russia takes Ukrainian town in advance on Pokrovsk

A Ukrainian service member rides on top of a tank, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, near the town of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Sunday its forces had taken full control of a town in eastern Ukraine as Moscow's forces advance on the strategically important city of Pokrovsk and seek to pierce the Ukrainian defensive front lines.

Russian forces, which control about a fifth of Ukraine since invading in February 2022, are advancing in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to take the whole of the Donbas, which is about half the size of the U.S. state of Ohio.