Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine's forces have liberated two small settlements in the southern Kherson region.

The Ukrainian President mentioned the settlements when thanking specific units of the country's forces for distinguishing themselves on the frontline in his nightly address on Sunday.

The success came after Ukraine had launched a heavily flagged offensive to retake Kherson from Russian forces in September. Kherson city was the only regional capital that the Kremlin captured in the first few days of their invasion in February.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has claimed full control of Russia's eastern logistics hub Lyman, its most significant battlefield gain in weeks.

The stinging setback for Vladimir Putin was delivered after the Russian president proclaimed the annexation of four regions covering nearly a fifth of Ukraine on Friday, an area that includes Lyman. 

"The story of the liberation of Lyman in the Donetsk region has now become the most popular in the media," Zelensky said on Sunday night, adding: "But the successes of our soldiers are not limited to Lyman".