On Sunday, Russia announced that its military had seized control of two villages in Ukraine: Andriivka in the eastern Lugansk region and Pishchane in the northeast Kharkiv region. These villages, located less than 20 kilometers apart along a frontline sector, have seen gradual advances by Moscow's forces in recent weeks. The Russian defense ministry stated that their army units had 'liberated' Andriivka and Pishchane, securing more advantageous lines and positions. Andriivka, a small village with a population under 20, was one of the last territories in the eastern Lugansk region still under Kyiv's control and a significant target for Moscow. Pishchane has also been a focus for the Kremlin, as its capture could potentially clear the path for Russia to reach the Oskil river, approximately 10 kilometers away, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Moscow has claimed to have taken several villages and settlements, many of which are small and sparsely populated, in the past few weeks. Neither side has managed to achieve a definitive breakthrough, and both Moscow and Kyiv report inflicting substantial casualties on each other, nearly two and a half years since Russia initiated its offensive.