Russian forces have taken control of the first village in the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, Russian state media and war bloggers said on Monday, after Russia took 950 square kms of territory in two months.

Russian Su-34s are the main aircraft Russia uses to launch missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements. As of Saturday, 37 Russian Su-34s and 158 aircraft in total had been destroyed or damaged since February 2022 according to Oryx, a website tracking war losses by using imagery as proof.

Ukraine says recent Russian attacks highlight its need for further support from Washington for air defenses including more Patriot-missile batteries from the U.S.

The strikes targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the front lines. Officials confirmed three deaths and said another two died in Russian shelling.