Most accounts of Maryinka, southwest of the Russian-held regional centre of Donetsk, describe it as a ghost town amid daily reports of Ukrainian forces defending different districts.
Ukrainian forces, it said, remained in control of other districts.
Ukrainian social media accounts noted Russian advances, but quoted soldiers as rejecting the notion that Moscow's troops controlled the entire town.
Russian forces, focused on eastern Ukraine, have been attacking the town of Avdiivka, 40 km (25 miles) north of Maryinka, since mid-October.
Ukrainian forces, he said, had repelled attacks near Kupiansk, a northeastern area seized by Russia after invading in February 2022, but retaken by Ukrainian troops a year ago.
Persons:
Andriy Yermak, Rybar, Maryinka, Volodymyr Fitio, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Leslie Adler
Organizations:
Ukraine's, Staff, Russia's Defence Ministry, Thomson
Locations:
Maryinka, Ukraine, Donetsk Region, Russian, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Kupiansk, Russia