The Russian Ministry of Defense on Monday claimed the army took control of two towns in eastern Ukraine, one in the Donetsk region and the second in the Kharkiv region. The ministry said in a statement that units of the Center Group forces of the Russian forces took control of the town of Solovyovo, while units of the West Group forces were able to control the town of Kotlyarovka. It reported that three counterattacks by groups affiliated with the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled, in the areas of Senkovka and Karakhmalnoye in Kharkiv Province, and Stelmakhovka in Luhansk Province in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense also said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had issued instructions to the General Staff to prepare for exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. The ministry added that this measure "comes to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to respond and to ensure the safety and sovereignty of the state's territories." Source: Qatar News Age ncy