Russian forces capture Sviato-Pokrovske settlement in Donetsk: defense ministry

MOSCOW, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that units of its Southern Group of Forces had taken control of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in the Donetsk region.

"As a result of decisive actions, units of the Southern Group of Forces liberated the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in the Donetsk region," the ministry said in a statement.

Additionally, Russian air defense systems shot down six aerial bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS rocket, and 472 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hours, the ministry added. ■