The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on August 23, 2025, that Russian forces had taken control of two settlements, Kleban-Byk and Sredne (also referred to as Klybanbyk and Srydni), in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. This development was reported by multiple international news agencies including RIA, Reuters, and China Daily. The capture of these villages marks an escalation in military pressure by Russia in the region amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Subsequently, Ukrainian forces claimed to have retaken three villages in the same Donetsk region, intensifying the battle for control. Ukrainian military leadership acknowledged the recapture of these settlements but described the situation in the strategic town of Pokrovsk as very difficult. Additionally, Russia reported capturing another village in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region, indicating continued active engagements on multiple fronts in eastern Ukraine.