MOSCOW - Russian forces carried out seven strikes on Ukrainian military-linked targets over the past week in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on civilian facilities in Russia, and seized control of seven settlements, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Overnight, Russian forces launched a large-scale strike using air- and ground-launched long-range precision weapons, as well as attack drones, targeting Ukraine's military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure supporting Kyiv's military operations, the ministry said.

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It added that six group strikes were conducted during the week, hitting fuel, transport and port infrastructure used by Ukrainian forces, as well as military airfields, facilities involved in the production and pre-launch preparation of long-range attack drones, and temporary deployment sites for Ukrainian troops and foreign fighters.

The ministry also said Russian forces had taken full control of the Luhansk region.