MOSCOW, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has taken control of the settlement of Prylipka in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Andriivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region within the last 24 hours, according to the country's defense ministry.

The ministry said Russian forces also launched a large-scale strike against Ukrainian military-industrial sites and energy infrastructure in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on civilian facilities inside Russia.

"The objectives of the strike have been fully achieved. All designated targets have been neutralized," the ministry said. ■