Russia's Push in Donetsk: Marynivka Captured Amid Intensified Assaults

Russia claimed to have captured Marynivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region, aiming for the logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Ukraine's General Staff reported heavy fighting near Marynivka and Selydove. As Russian forces gain ground, President Zelenskiy seeks additional support from the U.S., which has pledged over $8 billion in military aid.

Russia announced on Friday that it had captured the village of Marynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The village lies on the path to the crucial logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine's General Staff did not verify the capture but mentioned intense fighting in areas nearby, including Selydove to the southwest, where they claim to have repelled 42 Russian assaults over the past day. Reports from the battlefield are yet to be independently verified by Reuters.

In recent weeks, Russian forces have accelerated their offensive in Donetsk, capturing several towns and villages. Amid this escalation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the United States to seek further aid. President Joe Biden has pledged over $8 billion in military assistance to help Ukraine "win this war."

(With inputs from agencies.)