MOSCOW, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that units of its east group of forces have taken control of the Gerasimovka settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region within the last 24 hours.

Additionally, Russian forces defeated Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and destroyed or damaged equipment belonging to mechanized and assault brigades, as well as three assault regiments and a territorial defense brigade.

These engagements took place in Andriyivka and Gavrilovka settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and in Ternovatoe, Gulyaipole and Kosovtsevo settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. ■