(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region as a condition for ending Russia's war but told U.S. President Donald Trump he could freeze the rest of the frontline if his core demands were met,

In temporarily occupied Donetsk, explosions can be heard. The city is under a massive attack by unidentified strike drones, according to local and Russian Telegram channels. Explosions are occurring in various parts of the city.

The General Staff said Russian forces suffered significant losses in the area, including 910 killed, 335 wounded, and 37 captured.

Small groups of Russian troops have pierced parts of Ukraine’s defenses in its eastern Donetsk region, according to local officials, as Russia appears to be making an 11th-hour dash to snatch as much territory as possible ahead of the planned meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday.

Ukrainian troops recapture the villages of Hruzke, Rubizhne, Novovodiane, Petrivka, Vesele, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, according to General Staff - Anadolu Ajansı

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on that the situation in Donetsk remains "extremely difficult" but said Ukrainian forces have achieved some gains.

Russia has struggled to take a fortress defensive belt that blocks further advances.

Ukrainian air defense units were fighting an increased wave of Russian drones in the eastern Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russia appeared to intensify its assault there ahead of peace talks Friday.

As part of the prisoner exchange on 14 August, three doctors who had endured Russian sham trials and more than seven years of captivity have been brought back to territory controlled by Ukraine. Along with 48 other civilians,