MOSCOW, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces took control of five populated settlements in the special military operation zone over the past week, including two in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Military vehicles drive along a street during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, April 29, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

Zakotnoye (also known as Zakitne) in the Donetsk region and Zhovtnevoye in the Zaporizhzhia region came under the control of Russian forces over the past day, the ministry added.

Russian air defense systems additionally shot down 31 guided aerial bombs, 21 U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, three long-range Neptune cruise missiles and 1,138 fixed-wing drones over the past week, according to a statement of the ministry.

During the same period, the Russian Armed Forces carried out one massive strike and six group strikes against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, energy facilities supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and infrastructure linked to Ukrainian militants.