The Russian armed forces are in full control of the village of Peski on the outskirts of the Donetsk region, the Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing a Defense Ministry statement in Moscow today.

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the report.

The Russian armed forces, as well as Russian-backed forces, said they were in full control of Piski more than a week ago.

The same ministry said Russian troops destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS multiple launch rocket system in Ukraine near Kramatorsk, as well as an ammunition depot for the same weapon system, Interfax reported.

Moscow warns of the end of Russian-American relations

Any potential takeover of Russian assets by the US would completely destroy Moscow’s bilateral relations with Washington, the head of the North American Directorate of the Russian Foreign Ministry said today, the TASS news agency reported.

“We are warning the Americans of the devastating consequences of such actions, which will forever harm bilateral relations, which is not in their interests and not in our interests,” Alexander Dartsev told TASS. It was not immediately clear what assets he was referring to, Reuters notes, which also notes that his cable from Moscow was drafted in accordance with a law restricting coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine.

Dartsev also said that US influence in Ukraine has increased to such an extent that “Americans are increasingly becoming a direct participant in the conflict.”