Russia's MoD made the claim amid fierce street-by-street fighting in the key eastern Ukrainian city, although it cannot be verified.
ADVERTISEMENTThe war in Ukraine, which passed its 100 day anniversary Friday, is now one of the bloodiest conflicts to shake Europe in decades. Thousands have died, millions are displaced and whole cities lie in ruins.
With the rhetoric hardening on both sides, Ukrainian fighters on the ground battled Russian forces in the country's east on Saturday, particularly in the key eastern city of Severodonetsk which saw fierce fighting.
After a regional governor claimed Ukrainian forces had pushed Russia's military back in certain parts of the area, Russia's MoD later said Ukrainian forces were now in retreat.
Euronews could not independently verify this.